Photo credit: Parrish Lewis, Courtesy of Roadside Attractions and Amazon Studios
Spike Lee’s Chi-raq re-imagines Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy “Lystrata” as modern plea for peace in violence-torn Chicago. Chi-Raq is a term the director reportedly heard on the streets, used to compare violence-racked Chicago neighborhoods to war-torn Iraq. In the classic Greek play, the women on both sides of warring Sparta and Troy join together to end the war by staging a sex boycott. No sex for the men until there is no war. In Chi-raq, the Spartans and the Trojans are opposing gangs in a disadvantaged neighborhood, where their violent warfare is killing children in the streets.
It is a clever idea, moving this ancient comedy to Chicago’s bloody streets, using humor, music, sex and truth-telling to put a spotlight on the situation in these disadvantaged city neighborhoods. Sometimes a person just has to speak out, even if nothing will change,...
Spike Lee’s Chi-raq re-imagines Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy “Lystrata” as modern plea for peace in violence-torn Chicago. Chi-Raq is a term the director reportedly heard on the streets, used to compare violence-racked Chicago neighborhoods to war-torn Iraq. In the classic Greek play, the women on both sides of warring Sparta and Troy join together to end the war by staging a sex boycott. No sex for the men until there is no war. In Chi-raq, the Spartans and the Trojans are opposing gangs in a disadvantaged neighborhood, where their violent warfare is killing children in the streets.
It is a clever idea, moving this ancient comedy to Chicago’s bloody streets, using humor, music, sex and truth-telling to put a spotlight on the situation in these disadvantaged city neighborhoods. Sometimes a person just has to speak out, even if nothing will change,...
- 12/4/2015
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Similar News
Box office: ‘Furiosa’ barely wins weekend in a tight Memorial Day race against ‘Garfield’
- 5/27/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
‘The Garfield Movie’ Gives Its Legendary Orange Tabby a Makeover
- 5/27/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Oldboy (2003) – Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie?
- 5/27/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
“He’s clearly not a good guy”: The Boys’ Antony Starr is Getting a Little Concerned After Seeing Fans’ Obsession With Homelander
- 5/27/2024
- by Tushar Auddy
- FandomWire
Sydney Sweeney’s Hottest Movies & TV Shows (Ranked)
- 5/26/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
‘High School’ Canceled After 1 Season By Amazon Freevee
- 5/23/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Stephen King Still Bitter About the Academy Overlooking His Scariest Adaptation Ever
- 5/26/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
The Stephen King Movie Stephen King Thinks Should've Gotten A Best Actor Oscar Nomination
- 5/19/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Great Escape closes deals for psycho-thriller ‘Clawfoot’ (exclusive)
- 5/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
David Lynch Teases New Project for June 5 in Most Cryptic Way Possible
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire Television
US Box Office: ‘Furiosa’ Just Barely Beats ‘The Garfield Movie’ in Disastrous Memorial Day Weekend — the Worst in Decades
- 5/27/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Johnny Wactor, General Hospital Actor, Dead at 37
- 5/26/2024
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Global Box Office: ‘Furiosa’ Stalls With $58 Million, ‘The Garfield Movie’ Nears $100 Million
- 5/26/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
US Box Office: ‘Furiosa’ and ‘The Garfield Movie’ Tie for No. 1 With $31 Million in Bleak Memorial Day Weekend Battle
- 5/26/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
David Lynch Teases New Project for June 5 in Most Cryptic Way Possible
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire Television
Bill Walton, NBA Hall of Famer and Emmy-Winning Sports Commentator, Dead at 71
- 5/27/2024
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
Walton Goggins on Why Filming ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Is “Very Meta on Every Level”
- 5/27/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Johnny Wactor, General Hospital Actor, Dead at 37
- 5/26/2024
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Richard Sherman, Oscar-Winning Songwriter on ‘Mary Poppins,’ Dies at 95
- 5/25/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
David Lynch Teases New Project for June 5 in Most Cryptic Way Possible
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire Television
David Lynch Teases New Project for June 5 in Most Cryptic Way Possible
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Mubi Swoops on Andrea Arnold’s Cannes Competition Entry ‘Bird’ for North America (Exclusive)
- 5/26/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Jane Schoenbrun Talks Future Plans on A24 Podcast: ‘I Want to Make a Stoner Comedy for Reals’
- 5/24/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Remembering Darryl Hickman, the Former Child Actor from ‘Leave Her to Heaven,’ Who Just Died at 92
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Global Box Office: ‘Furiosa’ Stalls With $58 Million, ‘The Garfield Movie’ Nears $100 Million
- 5/26/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Paul Mescal Reportedly Being Eyed For Role In Sam Mendes’ ‘Beatles’ Movies
- 5/24/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Mubi Swoops on Andrea Arnold’s Cannes Competition Entry ‘Bird’ for North America (Exclusive)
- 5/26/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy and Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
The ‘Home Alone’ House Is Up for Sale for a Cool $5.25 Million
- 5/25/2024
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
Remembering Darryl Hickman, the Former Child Actor from ‘Leave Her to Heaven,’ Who Just Died at 92
- 5/27/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
‘The Good Wife’ Gets Arabic Adaptation on Mbc’s Shahid Streamer With Star Hend Sabri in Lead Role
- 5/27/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - TV News
DC’s Green Lantern Series Taps Damon Lindelof, ‘Ozark’ Showrunner Chris Mundy as Writers
- 5/26/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Susan Lucci Says She Was Offered ‘The Golden Bachelorette’: ‘It Wasn’t for Me’
- 5/25/2024
- TV Insider
TVLine Items: Cristin Milioti Joins Hulu’s Hit-Monkey, Death by Lighting Adds Bradley Whitford and More
- 5/25/2024
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
How ‘Shogun’ Is Shaking Up the Emmy Race
- 5/25/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News