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Rick Famuyiwa Dope Analysis

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Rick Famuyiwa's Dope is an irreverent coming of age film that thrives on bending and breaking stereotypes about blackness. As the film follows Malcolm, a geeky black kid from a rough neighborhood who aspires to study at Harvard, a series of unexpected events involving drug trafficking unravels, thus complicating Malcolm’s future. This whirlwind of events starts when Malcolm, Jib, and Diggy try to sneak into the club for Dom's party. This scene is not only the catalyst for the film's conflict, but Famuyiwa also uses it to introduce to several major themes and motifs key to the film. As more of a realistic film, Dope focuses more on narrative than any other formal element. This particular scene is crucial for the film's overall narrative since this is where the main conflict starts. If Malcolm, Jib, and Diggy wouldn't have tried to sneak into Dom's party, he wouldn’t have ended up with a backpack full of drugs and a gun that would threaten his future. …show more content…

The low-key lighting is coherent since they are in a club, but more importantly it emphasizes the confrontational, dramatic mood of the scene. The shadows obscure Dom’s expressions, giving him a more menacing look. This, coupled with an over-the-shoulder shot that simultaneously shows Dom towering over the bouncer and the bouncer’s intimidated expressions, display the power dynamics at play. Later on, when Dom punches the guard, the focus of attention shifts from the confrontation to Malcolm’s reaction. The off-screen sound of a ruckus is the only thing the audience can perceive of the fight. The lack of interest on the graphic violence, or rather prioritizing Malcolm’s response over the violence itself, serves as a reminder that this is ultimately Malcolm’s

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