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It’s often said that truth can be even stranger than fiction. And, let’s be honest here: those stories often make for the most fascinating movies. And that’s certainly the case for Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, which explores the strange and remarkable story of an African-American man who was welcomed into the KKK.
BlacKkKlansman tells the true story of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), the first black officer in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Eager to work undercover, he accepts an assignment to cover an event organized by the Black Student Union. While he waits for his next big assignment, he notices an ad in the paper for the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, so he calls the phone number. And with help from Jewish detective Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), he’s able to infiltrate the organization, even connecting with Grand Wizard David Duke (Topher Grace), who personally processes his membership.
The story of Ron’s involvement in the KKK—and the fact that he’s able to earn the trust of not just the local members but of David Duke himself—is so remarkable and so shocking that it’s often hilarious. The interactions that Ron and Flip have with KKK members are so unbelievable that you just can’t help but laugh at the sheer insanity of it all.
Of course, this is a Spike Lee movie, so it’s not just another brainless comic crime thriller. And it’s no surprise that there’s a strong political undertone, often referencing current events and exploring timely themes in not-so-subtle ways before hitting those points home in the end. At times, it’s absolutely chilling—and heartbreaking, too. And, really, there’s so much to think about here that the film begs for multiple viewings.
This isn’t a one-sided story, either. Lee examines all sides, exploring differences and similarities. He takes viewers from KKK meetings to Black Student Union meetings, where white and black characters express their fears and frustrations in their own ways—both even suggesting violence as a way to make their point. These characters are angry; they’re confused; they’re fighting for control in a society that just doesn’t seem to make any sense. But they come at it from different perspectives and different backgrounds, with different experiences. And it’s no surprise that the anger and fear and tension all build up to an explosive conclusion.
BlacKkKlansman is an eye-opening, in-your-face kind of story—and there’s really no one better to tell this story than Spike Lee. This is a film that will make you think—but it’s also incredibly entertaining.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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