@raalkivictorieux Master Ra’al Ki Victorieux
Discover the thought-provoking journey of a 40-year-old woman in “The Forty-Year-Old Version” movie. Radha Blank’s breakthrough documentary challenges societal expectations with theater. #TheFortyYearOldVersion #RadhaBlank https://wp.me/p3JLEZ-5kb
“The Forty-Year-Old Version” is a film written, directed, and produced by Radha Blank. She is a filmmaker, playwright, and actress known for her work in Off-Broadway theater and her role in this film represents her breakthrough into the mainstream film industry. Has received critical acclaim and several awards, including the prestigious Directing Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, also the movie was named one of the ten best films of 2020 by the National Board of Review.
The production of “The Forty-Year-Old Version” had a budget estimated to be around $2 million. The film’s success lies in its critical acclaim.
Blanck’ borrowed voice
I searched on Google: for “statistics of female rappers and men”, but my mind found a “words game” between rappers and raped, maybe this is not a long shot. I’ll explain myself, rap -like other urban music genres- is usually dominated by men, and when an independent woman tries to succeed, is mocked, harassed, or even raped. This Blanck film helps “symbolically” to break the gender gap in rap/hip-hop. I mean, even then she is the writer, director, and protagonist the music is not hers, it is by a man: Guy C. Routte. Film paradox. I even thought I saw some kind of an 2002′ 8 Mile version with a black woman actress. So, I looked for Radha Blank’s music… but found no more than some theater-related interviews. Maybe she has some raps, but those are not the bone marrow of her life and work. In contrast, 8 Mile is not only a great film, but it is also a portrait of a top musician, Eminem in his prime. That is not the case with The 40-Year-Old Version, not either with Cate Blanchett as the fictional Lydia Tár.
It has been a trend to start making films about concerts, and even when Taylor Swift made me see her in a cinema seat for 3 hours. I was happy, really! I could understand all the struggles she had after some rapper tried to make her uncomfortable while receiving well-earned awards, some maybe more than complicated break-ups, and that an ex-manager stole the intellectual property of her recordings. Also, I saw recently D-Day, concert by Agust-D. We see the idol’s concerts with admiration and complicity. And for us, music lovers, a pretended rapper has less value than an real rapper, it doesn’t matter if she makes a good cinema story.
Ok, it is so cool for Blank to work in this film in these times, but it is politically incorrect for me to make these hard judgments for a black woman opera prima in times of #me2 and #blacklivesmatter. I do believe in the value of social justice endeavors. I just have to remain objective and say that the documentary has some fictional information, for example, the music is by Guy C. Routte, also known as Aftershock, who has a retro vibe very 90’s.
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Jordan Fudge
Now, about the production, let’s recognize that this film is possible for persons interested in film, such as Jordan Fudge and Lena Waithe.
Lena Waithe (born May 17, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi (2018–present) and the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–20) and Twenties (2020–21). She also wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim (2019) and is the executive producer of the horror anthology series Them (2021–present).
Waithe gained recognition for her role in the Netflix comedy-drama series Master of None (2015–2021), and became the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for writing the show’s “Thanksgiving” episode, which was loosely based on her personal experience of coming out to her mother. She has also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 2018 adventure film Ready Player One and the HBO series Westworld. In 2023, she received a nomination for Best Play at the 76th Tony Awards, her production work on the sketch-comedy play Ain’t No Mo’.
Waithe was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018; and was included on Fast Company’s Queer 50 list in 2021 and 2022.
Trivia
Radha Blank drew inspiration from her own experiences as a playwright and artist in creating the film’s narrative, adding a layer of authenticity to the storytelling. Additionally, the title is a playful nod to the popular film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” cleverly twisting expectations and drawing attention to the central character’s journey.
Plot
Radha is a playwright and teacher nearing her 40th birthday and living under the burden of the unfulfilled promise of a 30 under 30 award she won nearly a decade ago. Archie, her agent and friend, gives her latest play Harlem Ave to J. Whitman, a wealthy white producer, who suggests her work needs some changes. After he offers her a job writing for a Harriet Tubman musical, Radha throttles him.
At a loss over what to do with her career, Radha hears rap music blasting outside her apartment and is inspired to start writing raps, following a passion she developed and abandoned in high school. Tracking down D, a music producer, she invents the name RadhaMUSprime. Archie believes she is going through a breakdown.
D is initially distant towards Radha, but after they create a track together, she is shocked to find him willing to record a mixtape with her. He also invites her to perform at a showcase for up-and-coming rappers. Before the showcase Radha gets high and forgets her lyrics, leading her to humiliate herself in front of a crowd of her students.
Archie uses the recent death of Radha’s mother to smooth things over with Whitman, who agrees to produce Harlem Ave. However, he tells her to add a white character to her play. As the play progresses to the workshop stage, Radha increasingly feels uncomfortable with the compromises she is making to appeal to the script modifications. Because instead of a play denouncing gentrification, it starts to be a yuppie complaint about where to get soy milk.
Despite witnessing her bombing on stage, D encourages Radha to continue rapping. After taking her to an all-woman rap battle in the Bronx, they spend the night together and open up about their lives as struggling artists.
Radha continues to struggle with the compromises she makes to have the play produced. Cleaning out her mother’s apartment with her brother, she reflects on her mother’s career as a struggling painting artist. Radha is surprised and encouraged to see that her brother views their mother as a talented woman rather than a failure.
On her play’s opening night, Radha appears during the curtain call and denounces her work predicament, rapping about the need for an artist to stay true to their artistic vision. She fires Archie at the same time he quits and then heads to D’s apartment to reunite with him. The film ends with the two walking together, him beatboxing and her rapping, as the shot slowly changes from black and white to color. Maybe as a metaphor for the celebration on the night when she found the courage to speak her mind.
Credits
Directed, written and starring by Radha Blank. Produced by Lena Waithe, Jordan Fudge, Radha Blank. Music by Guy C. Routte. Released on 2020.
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