A Raisin In The Sun(1961):The R R & R Review

I've seen this this afternoon. This is one special film. Starring Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. Walter Lee Younger(Poitier) lives in poverty with his wife, sister, mother and young son, who has to sleep on the living room couch. They have a chance for something better when his mother(Ms Dee) receives a life insurance check for $10,000 from her late husband. However, mother and son clash on what to do with the money, which causes some tension(and him to turn to drinking) : he wants to invest in a liquor store, she ends up buying a more spacious house in a white neighborhood, which also causes tension. Walter Lee is pissed that she has "crushed his dream", but in a touching scene, she gives him the remainder of the money left from the house to put aside for sister Beneatha's medical school dream, the rest for a checking account for him, then tells him he is now "head of the household". This is based on a play, and each actor has a chance to shine. I always tend to like films based on plays. The sister provides some comic relief, she's a little different, to say the least. I recommend this highly, especially the last monologue by Poitier. Very moving...

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