A recap of the 2006 film from Giselle Castro:
It follows the professional and private life of Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan), an uptight, successful, single African American woman in search of an IBM (Ideal Black Male). In the midst of making partner in her law firm, love comes to her in a form she least expects: Brian Kelly (Simon Baker), an attractive and talented white landscape gardener. They meet on a blind date that ends in shambles and he offers to make over her backyard. Love blossoms between them.I have to say, I relate a lot to this uptight and professionally driven woman. Brian helps Kenya live life a little. Plus, there are ballgowns and beautiful gardens in the film. What more could you ask for?
My favorite parts are when Kenya and Brian run up against their own and others' reactions to interracial dating. You can catch some of my favorite lines in this trailer:
I also love when I learn something from movies too. This is a great scene:
Brian: Can I ask you one more question?
Kenya: Hmm?
Brian: [grabs a piece of her hair] Can you take this off?
Kenya: [opens eyes] What do you mean?
Brian: I mean, it's not a wig, right? But it's not your real hair either, is it?
Kenya: [stares at him for a moment, then sits up] I can't believe you just asked me that.
Brian: I'm sorry, I'm just curious.
Kenya: It's a weave, if you must know. I thought you dated black girls.
Brian: They had real hair.
Kenya: I have real hair too.
Brian: Underneath?
Kenya: Yes, underneath!
Brian: So what, they just... they sew it in?
Kenya: Something like that.
Brian goes on to say that he wishes he could see her completely naked (ie without the weave.) They end up breaking up right after that, but Kenya has the weave taken out anyway. Here's the before:
Here's the after (obviously, they get back together):
Media Credit: Photo/ Sidney BaldwinI'm pretty ignorant of the whole hair extension process. Thank goodness for youtube. I chose this particular video because of the amazing braiding speed of the hairstylist. Wow:
5 comments:
Cool - that stylist is an amazing braider. I remember reading an article where an African American woman said to imagine that every woman had an invisible Lexus parked on the driveway, representing the amount spent on her hair. Chris Rock has a documentary called Good Hair that I have on my Netflix list, but haven't watched yet.
I really, really want to watch this movie again after reading your post. Good Hair is a good watch. :)
will have to dig up a photo of my hair when my host family in Senegal braided extensions into my hair...it took several people two days to do...it was also pretty entertaining trying to find hair at the market that matched mine...by the time I removed them several months later, mine own hair was like dreads...ouch!
Mme A
I love this movie! As a white person who has a lot of African-American friends and colleagues, I found Brian's honest journey to understand very relatable. Plus ... he's hot.
Catfish: thanks for dropping by! I definitely like this role by Simon Baker best. His character in The Devil Wears Prada kinda walked the line, but still hot. :)
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