I recently re-watched Spike Lee’s 1994 film Crooklyn, an autobiographical account of life growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1970s with his four siblings. Lee co-wrote the script with two of them, Joie Susannah and Cinqué. Crooklyn has tremendous performances and cinematography as is characteristic of Lee’s best films. Most of the action takes place through the eyes of Troy, played by 10-year-old first time actress Zelda Harris. Lee’s parents are conjured in (nearly over the top but) utterly believable style by Alfre Woodard and Delroy Lindo. Memorable moments include the kids huddled around both Soul Train and the Partridge Family (just to jog your memory or introduce those programs see below—enjoy!) on television, Troy’s “vacation” in the South with her aunt and uncle, and Ru Paul dancing in the local bodega (see clip below). With its exacting attention to detail Crooklyn becomes both an impressive period piece and an affecting drama incorporating comedic surrealism (Lee playing a bullying glue sniffer, camera aspect ratio shifting while Troy is visiting down South, arguments with an ornery musician neighbor portrayed by David Patrick Kelly who serenades his pack of dogs).
