SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne calls Minhal Baig’s latest film “beautiful, creative, and heartfelt” in his We Grown Now film review
Set in 1992 Chicago, We Grown Now tells the story of 12-year old best friends, Malik (Blake Cameron James) and Eric (Gian Knight Ramirez) as they navigate life in the Cabrini-Green public housing complex. Initially constructed to house World War II workers in the 1940’s, the community that was once home to 15,000 people with a strong sense of community, is now changing. While we meet the duo outside having fun, that all changes after a neighbourhood tragedy. When Malik’s mother Delores (Jurnee Smollett) lands a new position in the suburbs, Delores and Malik, and his grandmother Anita (S. Epatha Merkerson), must consider leaving the only home they’ve ever known in search of a new life.
With the title being inspired by the song “We Grown Now” by Chicago rapper MC Tree and director Minhal Baig being a Chicago native herself, the film looks and feels like a visual love letter to Chicago. There are moments when the film is very artistic and creative as Baig skillfully uses innovative shots, flashbacks, and dreamscapes to provide context for Malik’s family’s past and current life in housing, but to also point towards his dreams for a better future. While the pacing of the film felt a bit slow at times, Baig still tells a touching story about the power that friendship and family play in bringing us joy and helping cope with hardship.
During a Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival, Baig revealed that she drew inspiration from Spike Lee‘s classic Crooklyn and that the film was meant to emote a sense of nostalgia and wariness as seen through eyes of a child. She also revealed that Malik and Eric were meant to be distinct characters―Malik is the dreamer who isn’t afraid to fly and Eric is the more pragmatic of the two and is still seeking his father’s approval. With most of us having had the experience of leaving behind a childhood friend, the story is relatable to most viewers although set in inner city Chicago.
The film, which earned Baig the Changemaker Award, “presented to a festival film that explores issues relevant to young people and is focused on themes of social change and youth empowerment”, was anchored by the exceptional performances of James and Ramirez who showed a level of emotion, vulnerability, maturity and overall acting abilities beyond their years. The friendship they portrayed onscreen can only described as beautiful and something we should all aspire to.
Overall, We Grown Now is simply beautiful, creative, and heartfelt, and hopefully sign of great things to come for Baig and the young actors.
SHIFTER editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter, Kevin Bourne, is a Toronto-based entertainment journalist focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 310 international voters for the 81st Golden Globe Awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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