Soooo, I went to see “Little” on Friday. I laughed. I cried (twice I’m a wiener.). I left thinking. Overall, the movie was quite enjoyable. With Issa Rae, Regina Hall, the makers of “Girls Trip”, and the young G Marsai Martin, how can one possibly go wrong? Nonetheless, the movie caused me to ponder on the little things that grow into big things if we are not careful. Get comfy ya’ll its a review.
**SPOILER ALERT**
Little: Adj| small in size, amount, or degree
Testimony:
I’m in the movie ya’ll crying like a little bitch who got locked in a cage. By the way, I just got a female puppy, so the bitch jokes are strong within, but I digress. The first scene that got the tear ducts operating was moment the children were getting bullied during their auditions. And again, the tears rolled when they finally gained confidence, but those moments are not the nuts and berries of the movie. “Little” comments on more than the idea of coping with societal expectations. It goes deeper. Major themes were ideas such as: inner healing, childhood traumas, and creating alternative images and personas to overcompensate for pain. But it got me thinking. In wait ways do I carry childhood trauma? What issues lay on my plate and hinder my peace and development? Lastly, does social media or any other space based on images reflect a denser version of myself which attempts to mask my pain or be used as a defense mechanism. And if not me, than us—my girls, my guys, my community?
Break it down, B:
Ultimately, the purpose of art is to be a mirror of society. In that regard, “Little” is a compact mirror that zooms in on blemishes we often try to hide. “Little” prompts many must-have man in the mirror conversations. First up childhood trauma. The fact one bad moment in Jordan Sander’s (Regina Hall/ Marsai Martin) childhood led her to become jaded, bitter, harsh, mean, and in many ways stifled is a common case. Think about it. Her employees hated her, her business was at a negative halt, and she couldn’t go deep with that fine ass man from Star. In essence, it was her unhealed trauma and childhood insecurities that disabled her in the important areas of her life. The lesson that can be learned from looking in the little mirror goes as followed: we must heal or handle our childhood traumas/insecurities before they turn us into monsters. 8 times out of 10 when we take guarded and defensive routes to behave or react, it is due to some unaddressed, unhealed insecurity or trauma. I know that is the case for me. I’d tell you about how I handle issues in my relationship as an example, but we don’t have the time.
Second, and this theme is the most millennial: images. In order to overcome the bullies from her childhood, Jordan Sanders opted to recreate an image of herself that would warrant respect from all whom she came across. She made herself a bad boss ass bitch in order to save herself from hurt and pain. I’m here for being a boss, but the issue with Sanders is her boss caricature was toxic and withholding. On the other hand, and this is the wammy. When she told those kids they had to APPEAR to have fun and APPEAR to have it all on social media, I dropped my damn popcorn. Especially when the little boy–I don’t remember his name in the movie, BUT he could sing!–said, “well why don’t we just have fun in real life”, and Jordan’s response was, “we don’t have time for reality. It’s about appearances,” I clutched my imaginary pearls because that’s what we do. We sweep the real shit under the rug, funk up the place, then crop the lump out of the picture. We spend more time appearing to have fun and appearing to have it all on social media, we end up missing out on our lives. “Little” aims to challenge our dependency on images on and off the grid.
At the core of it, “Little” was a great movie and prompts much self-reflection. If you haven’t seen it. What are you waiting for? After the mirror is gazed upon, the popcorn gone, and the soda watered down, you will walk out of the theatre and all of the introspection like a light boss. The movie is funny, it makes you think, and it is dripping with self-love motivation. After all the mud, Jordan learns to appreciate her true self again, and the image is a little more than inspiring.
Pay Homage:
Even if you press the snooze button, it’s never too late to become the person you alway wanted to be.
-Homegirl
Facts:
- Get those insecurities before they get you.
- Art is a mirror for society.
- You are too bomb to be holding on to baggage—even if its designer.
Salute:
Until next time…
Be Classic & Don’t forget to subscribe.