White Man's Burden (1995)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Desmond Nakano

Writer (WGA):

Desmond Nakano (written by)

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Two men at odds in a world turned upside down.

Plot:

The story takes place in alternative America where the blacks are members of social elite, and whites are inhabitants of inner city ghettos...

Plot Keywords:

Corrupt Police | Alternative History | Prejudice | Racism | Punk

Cast

John Travolta	...	Louis Pinnock
Harry Belafonte	...	Thaddeus Thomas
Kelly Lynch	...	Marsha Pinnock
Margaret Avery	...	Megan Thomas
Tom Bower	...	Stanley
Andrew Lawrence	...	Donnie Pinnock
Bumper Robinson	...	Martin
Tom Wright	...	Lionel
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Roberta
Judith Drake	...	Dorothy
Robert Gossett	...	John
Wesley Thompson	...	Williams
Tom Nolan	...	Johansson
Willie C. Carpenter	...	Marcus
Michael Beach	...	Policeman #1 Outside Bar

Also Known As:

White Man (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some violence.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:MA | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

420-422 Avalon Boulevard, Wilmington, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

A Band Apart

Trivia:

John Travolta took the role at Quentin Tarantino's urging.

Quotes:

[Last lines. Mrs. Pinnock has just refused to accept from Mr. Thomas the money he owed her husband]
Thaddeus Thomas: What, isn't it enough?
Marsha Pinnock: How much is enough, Mr. Thomas? How much will ever be enough?
[turns and walks away]

Soundtrack:

Prelude To A Kiss

Excellent because of its ability to disturb.

Although on the surface a stupid, simplistic and "unrealistic" film, there is much more to the film. If the roles were reversed and every black character was played by a white and every white by a black I would be bored to tears, the film would never have made a dime, and we'd all hate it with justification. However, it was this very realization, during the film, which made me respect its message. Because the roles are completely and totally reversed, swapping black and white character for character, the film is disturbing. It's almost painful to watch. Ask yourself while you're watching how you're reacting and how the reaction would be different if there were no race reversals. Maybe that's because of the stereotypes we have in place and the roles we do play in the world - if it were just another story about a black man down on his luck we'd all yawn but because it's a white man and all of society is reversed, we watch, we wonder how it will play out, and we're bothered by it. I analogize the film to Planet of the Apes in some ways because of its ability to make us step back and take a look at society in a different way entirely. It is not as well done as Planet of the Apes but is worthwhile.