Green Book Reaction Post

 

        Green Book: Friendship and Prejudice 

 I recently watched  Green Book and I'm still processing the emotional impact this film had on me. Based on a true story, the movie follows the unlikely friendship between Tony Vallelonga, a working-class Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx, and Dr. Don Shirley, a refined African-American classical pianist, as they travel through the Jim Crow South in 1962.

What immediately struck me was how the film challenged my expectations. Initially, I assumed this would be another predictable story about racial reconciliation, but it turned out to be much more nuanced. Viggo Mortensen's portrayal of Tony was both frustrating and endearing—here was a man with clear prejudices who gradually opened his mind through genuine human connection. Mahershala Ali's Dr. Shirley was equally compelling, presenting a character who was dignified yet vulnerable, accomplished yet isolated.

The road trip format worked brilliantly as a metaphor for their journey toward understanding each other. I found myself laughing at their cultural clashes—Tony's horror at Don's refined eating habits, Don's bewilderment at Tony's love of fried chicken—while recognizing the deeper tensions these moments represented. The Green Book itself, the travel guide that helped Black travelers find safe accommodations, served as a stark reminder of the systemic racism that made such a guide necessary.

 Link to watch the full scene

A scene in GreenBook that I felt was extremely powerful was, the scene where Tony and Dr. Shirley encounter enslaved workers in a Southern field. The visual of Black slave workers, working under oppressive conditions creates a profound emotional impact for Dr. Shirley, who witnesses the harsh reality that many of his race still endured despite legal emancipation. This particular moment forces both characters as well as the audience to confront the brutal continuity between slavery and the Jim Crow-era exploitation. The scene's silence speaks volumes, highlighting Dr. Shirley's isolation between his privileged position as a celebrated musician and the systemic oppression faced by his community.

"Green Book" left me reflecting on my own assumptions and the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone to truly understand others.