This updated version of Lorraine Hansbury's classic is a masterpiece of filmed drama. Rather than attempting to look like a film, it is shot entirely on a theatrical set, without any kind of special editing, thus giving it the feel of a play. This gives the actors and Hansbury's words all of the spotlight, and they work so well together. Danny Glover gives a stunning performance as Walter Younger, capturing all the idealism and naivité of the chararacter and combining them with his astute racial awareness. Starletta DuPois is very subdued as Ruth, but all the pent-up emotions and inner-conflict are gloriously apparent nonetheless. Esther Rolle simply has a vast authority as Mama, dominating the screen at every turn without overdoing anything. My only qualms were with the occasional exaggerations of Kim Yancey as the baby sister of the family and Lou Ferguson's unwaveringly simple spouting of Asagai's lines. But these do not bring the film down very far. 9/10
Review of A Raisin in the Sun
