Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992)

Chantel Mitchell (Ariyan Johnson), a hip, articulate, black high-school girl in Brooklyn, is determined not to become "just another girl on the IRT" (the IRT is one of NYC's subway lines). ... See full summary »

Director:

Leslie Harris

Writer:

Leslie Harris

Stars:

Ariyan A. Johnson, Kevin Thigpen, Ebony Jerido

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ariyan A. Johnson	...	Chantel Mitchell
Kevin Thigpen	...	Tyrone
Ebony Jerido	...	Natete
Chequita Jackson	...	Paula
Jerard Washington	...	Gerard
Tony Wilkes	...	Owen Mitchell
Karen Robinson	...	Debra Mitchell
Johnny Roses	...	Mr. Weinberg
Kisha Richardson	...	Lavonica
Monet Dunham	...	Denisha
Wendell Moore	...	Mr. Moore
William Badgett	...	Cedric
Laura Ross	...	Woman Customer
Rasha Mella	...	Woman in Welfare Office (as Rashmella)
Ron L. Cox	...	Clinic Doctor

Storyline

Chantel Mitchell (Ariyan Johnson), a hip, articulate, black high-school girl in Brooklyn, is determined not to become "just another girl on the IRT" (the IRT is one of NYC's subway lines). She dreams of medical school, a family, and an escape from the generational poverty and street-corner life her friends seem to have accepted as their lot. But personal and sexual challenges confront Chantel on her way to fulfilling these dreams.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | subway | class differences | ghetto | welfare | 

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Taglines:

If You Think You Know Her, Think Again.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brooklyn Girl

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$479,169 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Truth 24 F.P.S.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The initials "I.R.T." in the film's title stand for "Interborough Rapid Transit", which refers to a number of New York City's subway systems. Despite the title, however, there is only one scene where Chantel Mitchell is seen in the subway.

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Connections

Featured in Cinefile: Made in the USA (1993)

User Reviews

Low Budget Urban Cinema Series.

Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992) was an interesting movie that was neglected during it's release at the theaters and on video. I saw a trailer for this film at my local art house cinema. I enjoyed this movie very much. The budget was shoe string and the cast was filled with mostly novices but the end results were very effective. A sad tale about people who'll be swept under the rug due to ignorance about life, their economic situation or the environment where people live.

A young African-American teenager wants to make it out of the ghetto and go to college and make something out of herself. But some questionable judgment calls, a dire environment and the out spoken person that she is slowly drag her down. Can she claw her way out of her current dilemma or will she just become another girl in the projects who tried but failed?

Too bad the director never made a follow up picture or produced a sequel to this film. I would like to see if she managed to pull herself out of the poverty mire or just became another disenfranchised person on the dole or in government housing. Sad but filmed with a gritty realism.

Highly recommended.