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Parents' Guide to

Crooklyn

By Lynnette Nicholas, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Nuanced depiction of a black family in Brooklyn; language.

Movie PG-13 1994 115 minutes
Crooklyn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Kayshalove
Kayshalove Parent of 14-year-old
September 11, 2022
age 10+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

CROOKLYN is Spike Lee's semi-autobiographical dramedy about a Black family living in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in the 1970s. It centers on teacher Carolyn (Alfre Woodard)l; her financially irresponsible musician husband, Woody (Delroy Lindo); and their five kids. While not the best provider for Carolyn and the family, Woody loves his wife and kids -- including 9-year-old Troy (Zelda Harris), who's forced to learn lessons from her four brothers, her mother, and the choices of her father.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This film provides a candid, transparent, and culturally-rich perspective of black girlhood in a way that's not glamorized, stereotypical, or caricatured. With a screenplay written by a trio of black writers who happen to be family, and a semi-autobiographical story written by Joie Lee, the storyline offers a genuine glimpse into the everyday life of an African American family living in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Crooklyn provides an endearing and raw glimpse of many of the cultural norms and societal undercurrents present in the lives of a family during a very critical time in America's history. The Carmichaels are a vibrant, intelligent, and at times uncouth household that showcase the unspoken burdens of the black female matriarch in ways that are real, relatable, and culturally-sensitive without erasing the authenticity of those experiences.

The layered dynamics of the family are clearly delineated. Carolyn as an overworked, underpaid teacher and mom clearly depicts the resilience and oftentimes burden that black women carry within the family unit. Troy brings a vivaciousness and wisdom beyond her years to the narrative. Her stepping into the legacy of the forthcoming matriarch of the family is evident in the inner strength and stoic nature that she exudes after the loss of a parent. Though a child, she doesn't shrink from the responsibility and courage that it takes to be the woman of the house. As she steps into her mother's legacy with great strength and poise even in her youth, there's great symbolism that echoes and reflects the experiences of so many young girls and women in African American communities.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the dynamics of a family in Crooklyn. What's the definition of a family, and how do the dynamics of a family change depending on different cultures? Does a person's culture affect their role in a family?

  • Does the history and culture of a family affect the roles of the different genders within a family? How does the history of treatment toward women apply to this movie? In a marriage, is it the man's responsibility to provide for the family?

  • What character strengths do the female characters in the movie display? How does the movie promote courage, perseverance, and communication?

  • How does the film portray the communication within this family? What role does communication play in your family?

  • In what ways does conflict make the characters in the family stronger? In what ways does Carolyn show strength? In what ways does Troy show strength?

Movie Details

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