«Green Book: On the Roads of the South»

Cinema Wednesdays - Loris S. Musumeci

«Black people love fried chicken.»

Tony works as a bouncer in a cabaret; his build is perfectly suited to the job. But the establishment is about to close. Known for his ability to work things out - because he's a smooth talker and, above all, a real wop - he's recommended to virtuoso pianist Don Shirley. The black musician needs not only a driver for his Southern tour, but also someone to look after him. It's 1962, and racism is more than present. A rital and a negro on the roads of the South? It seems so, since Green Book: On the southern roads tells nothing other than a true story. 

Barely out of the cinema, my review could be limited to: «I loved it!» Indeed, the film is excellent. But you're probably expecting a little more. If Le Regard Libre has become a reference point for many when it comes to cinema, it's not by limiting itself to the opinions of the editors. Needless to say, it all has a happy ending: I'm happy to divulge it without any further ado. disclose.

So you're probably imagining a sweet story about an Italian-American and a black man getting to know each other and overcoming their prejudices? You're right. Can you imagine a sweet story in which the intolerance and racism of Southerners are turned upside down by the musician-driver power couple? You're almost right. Can you imagine a sweet story at all? You're completely wrong.

Yes, the film has a happy ending. Yes, it has a good moral. But don't forget that this is a true story and, for once, it combines realism with caricature. Simply because Tony and Don Shirley are themselves delightful caricatures. While one eats pasta prepared by his wife, shouting «Vaffanculo!» under the benevolent gaze of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the kitchen, the other, a black man who doesn't live like other blacks, plays the greatest classics with his slender fingers, chin up.

And it's not enough that the story is truly beautiful. Peter Farrelly, right down to the details, gives his direction the qualities of a great film. Certainly, music, from Chopin to the drunkest jazz, plays a central role. It guides the viewer through the entire film, giving it a rhythm and making it almost danceable. But the photography will delight you too.

The colors, however unimportant they may seem, contribute greatly to the film's charm by creating moods. The interplay between sharp and blurred, which may seem like a detail no one really cares about, actually makes the whole production a pleasure to watch, even if the process takes place unconsciously. The clean fingers running over the shiny keyboard are magical. You're carried away by the music, hypnotically following the image and sharing an adventure of art and friendship in the Green Book: On the southern roads.

«Nothing is gained by violence. You win by keeping your dignity.»

Write to the author: loris.musumeci@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Ascot Elite Entertainment