Spike Lee is back behind the lens to bring us Red Hook Summer, a quasi-follow-up to his 1989 classic film, Do the Right Thing, telling a story about adolescence, the impact of religion on the youth, and the overall dangers of growing up.
Red Hook Summer has gotten mixed reviews since premiering at Sundance, but this trailer paints the picture of what we are going to get, mainly a kid struggling with family issues, while being guided in a way he’s not fond of.
Synopsis:
“The latest in Spike Lee’s Chronicles of Brooklyn anthology–which also includes “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), “Do The Right Thing” (1989), “Crooklyn” (1994), “Clockers” (1995), and “He Got Game” (1998)–RED HOOK SUMMER tells the story of Flik Royale (Jules Brown), a sullen young boy from middle-class Atlanta who has come to spend the summer with his deeply religious grandfather, Bishop Enoch Rouse (Clarke Peters), in the housing projects of Red Hook. Having never met before, things quickly get off on the wrong foot as Bishop Enoch relentlessly attempts to convert Flik into a follower of Jesus Christ. Between his grandfather’s constant preaching and the culture shock of inner-city life, Flik’s summer appears to be a total disaster–until he meets Chazz Morningstar (Toni Lysaith), a pretty girl his age, who shows Flik the brighter side of Brooklyn. Through her love and the love of his grandfather, Flik begins to realize that the world is a lot bigger, and perhaps a lot better, than he’d ever imagined.”
Red Hook Summer will open on August 10th.
Theater of The Mind 