Director RaMell Ross along with leading actors Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Brandon Wilson, and Ethan Herisse share an exclusive discussion on the making of "Nickel Boys". The film, an adaptation of the Pullizter Prize-winning novel, delves into the raw and powerful story rooted in African-American history.
Ellis-Taylor depicts Hattie, Elwood's grandmother, as a figure of strength and resilience. Her character emanates love and responsibility, reminiscent of her own grandmother's unbending spirit and unequaled respectability. Drawing parallels with her grandmother's determination to push a stuck car amidst a torrential thunderstorm just so Ellis-Taylor could recite a poem at the church, she believes the character of Hattie is driven by an innate necessity to keep her grandson safe.
Ross explains the significance of the alligator in the narrative as both a symbol and a metaphoric representation. This terrifying creature is an embodiment of the sustained fears and disillusionments arising from systematic racism, incorporated into American history and culture.
The film explores Elwood's world from his perspective as a child, which transitions as he grows into an adult. Ross wanted to capture the innocent, childlike realm where Elwood starts his journey - the viewpoint of a small person in a big world.
Commenting on a line referencing individual pain in the film, Herisse and Wilson expressed its relevance to them as Black boys navigating a world charged with painful preconceived perceptions. While Herisse perceives it as a burden placed upon him since birth, Wilson comprehends it as a part of his individual identity which doesn't necessarily comprise the entire picture.
As the narrative explores the struggles and the realities of Elwood's life, it reflects the attempts by politicians to rewrite or erase Black history. Amid current times marked by adopted selective amnesia and erasure of some integral parts of history, Ross prompts everyone to think beyond the present scenario. Envisaging a bigger picture can help in preserving the representation of Black history, even when there is an attempt to confine it within one-sided narratives. Ross, Herisse, and Wilson emphasize the importance of truth and awareness of being beyond the confines of these narrow stories, thereby urging audiences to confront hard realities.
