School spelling bees have often been fodder for documentaries — young people trying to control their sweaty palms, navigate the overwhelming pressure of academic competition, and, if they’re lucky, develop a sense of self along the way. But many of these films, like “Bee Nation” or “Spellbound,” perpetuate a racially monolithic desire to succeed that often excludes black and Latinx adolescents. That’s what makes “Don’t Be Nice” such an interesting watch.
The debut feature from director Max Powers (known for his editing work in films like “Alone Together” and “Big Cheat”) has nothing to do with being able to spell Sat words for cash prizes, but rather using words in a similar competition setting to empower the oppressed. “Don’t Be Nice” centers a group of young black and Latinx adults who make up the Bowery Slam Poetry Team in New York City, struggling to articulate the anguish,...
The debut feature from director Max Powers (known for his editing work in films like “Alone Together” and “Big Cheat”) has nothing to do with being able to spell Sat words for cash prizes, but rather using words in a similar competition setting to empower the oppressed. “Don’t Be Nice” centers a group of young black and Latinx adults who make up the Bowery Slam Poetry Team in New York City, struggling to articulate the anguish,...
- 9/18/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
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