A Raisin in the Sun: A Film

Production Information: Combs, S. (Producer) & Leon, K. (Director). (2008). A Raisin in the Sun. DVD. USA: Sony Pictures.

Plot Summary: This version of A Raisin in the Sun is a-made-for-television take on Lorraine Hansbury's play about a 1950 African-American Chicago family. Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and John Stamos star in this DVD. They were the original actors in the 2004 Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun. The story is about an extended family, the Youngers, who live together and rent an apartment. They have to share a bathroom down the hall with numerous other tenants. The youngest of the Youngers has to sleep on the sofa. They long for a better life.

Mama, the matriarch of the family, is expecting a check for $10,000.00 from insurance for her deceased husband. Mama and Ruth (daughter-in-law of Mama) want to buy a house with the money. Walter Lee (Sean Combs), Mama's son, wants to invest the money in a liquor store and Beneatha (Mama's daughter and Walter Lee's sister) wants to use the money for medical school tuition. Ruth finds out she is pregnant but she is not happy about the pregnancy because she is worried about the added financial stress. Later in the play, she schedules an illegal abortion but backs out at the last minute. Mama's check arrives and she puts a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood. She gives the rest of the money, $6,500.00, to Walter Lee, trusting that he will make responsible choices. Walter Lee loses all of the money when his friend cons him and takes off with the money. Mr. Lindner (Clybourne Park Improvement Project) pays a visit and offers the Youngers more money for their home if they don't move in. They were not welcome in a white neighborhood. Walter Lee is very tempted by the offer but, in the end, he refuses the offer and the Youngers move into their new home.

Critical Evaluation: A Raisin in the Sun is considered a classic and is widely studied in high schools across the country. The play deals with the importance of family, discrimination, following your dreams and never giving up, trust and so on. It is a wonderful and deeply moving play. The characters and the actors are engaging and believable.

Annotation: The Younger family struggles to fulfill their dream of a better life in Chicago in the 1950's.

About the Producer: A Raisin in the Sun was Sean Combs' first time as an executive-producer for his company: Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group. CNN and Time Magazine declared Combs "One of the Most Influential Businessmen in the World." At 36 years old he overseas one of the world's most distinguished urban entertainment companies. Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group encompasses recording, music, artist management, television and film production, recording facility, apparel and restaurants.

Sean Comb's stage name is "Diddy." In addition to managing his company he is a rapper,

dancer and clothing designer. He has won three Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music awards and a clothing award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He is the wealthiest hip-hop performer with an estimated worth of $346 million dollars.

Retrieved April 7, 2010 at: http://www.answers.com/topic/sean-combs

Genre: Realistic Drama

Curriculum Ties: Literature, Social Science, Sociology and Psychology

Talking Points: Are the Youngers able to fulfill their dream of a better life in Chicago in the 1950's? What will become of the Youngers when they move into an all white neighborhood and they are not welcome?

Rating & Interest Age: PG Interest Age: 15 and up

Challenge Issues: When Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun it was considered to be the first accurate depiction of African Americans. The play largely reflects Hansberry's experiences growing up in a black neighborhood in Chicago. When the original play was released in 1959 it was controversial because of its dealings with discrimination, abortion and feminism. In 2010 it would not be considered controversial.

Reason for Inclusion: Historical aspects of discrimination, character study, importance of the family and to use as supplementary material for literature and social science.