Stars Of ‘We Grown Now’ Say The Film is About Hope and Memory

Written by Vocalo Radio on April 30, 2024

Chicago-set film We Grown Now is a testament to resilience, hope and the enduring power of love.

From Chicago writer and director Minhal Baig, We Grown Now tells the story of two 10-year-old best friends, Malik and Eric, growing up in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project in the early ‘90s. As tragedy strikes their community, the boys must face the reality of life’s hardships — but, as Vocalo resident film critic Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder notes, the film’s central theme is hope.

Ponder sat down with Blake Cameron James, who plays Malik, and Jurnee Smollett who plays his mother Dolores to delve into the film.

“It’s a film about memory, and migration,” Smollett said. “It’s about being rooted only until you’re rootless again.”

We Grown Now invites viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and empathy. Debuting at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, the film has received widespread acclaim — earning Baig the Toronto festival’s Changemaker Award, and it was named Best U.S. Feature Film and earned the Audience Choice Award at the Chicago International Film Festival.

After beginning its small theatrical run on April 19, the film will be screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago until May 2. Tickets are available on the film center’s website, www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

Reggie Ponder: Hey, I’m Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic. I got a chance to speak with Blake Cameron James and Jurnee Smollett from the movie ‘We Grown Now.’ It is currently playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center through May 2. Here is an excerpt from my interview.

I want to say firstly just thank you to all of you guys for this film. It showed here in Chicago at the International Film Festival, and I just thought that the authenticity of it was absolutely beautiful. So thank you for your performances on that. Blake, this movie seemed to have a lot of hope, despite all the trials and tribulations. I’d like for you to speak to that. And then for you, Jurnee, what was it about your character that moved you to display that love that you showed throughout the film?

Blake Cameron James: Yes, sir. You said this movie is about hope, which, Malik, he’s very ambitious. He really just, he never wants to be content. He is not a content person. He always wants better for himself. That’s why in the movie, you’ll see, he wants to be in a bigger place or whatever — I’m not going to spoil it but. You know I’m saying? Just hope. That’s a good word. That’s a good word. I agree.

Jurnee Smollett: I think, for me, one of the earliest things our incredible writer, director Minhal said to me was, “It’s a film about memory, and migration.” It’s about being rooted only until you’re rootless again. I am the daughter of a single Black woman, growing up one of six kids.

I think I drew so much inspiration from my mother, from the stories my mother told me about my grandmother — who was also a single Black woman, she was in the south, in New Orleans and Texas — and what we do to survive, and just how fiercely we love our babies. I now am a mom, myself, and while I sit in a place of privilege, it is a very interesting thing, raising Black boys in America, and the fierce mama bear spirit that comes out of you when you are trying to bring them up and rear them in this world and protect their joy and protect their light and protect their love, and shield them from all the obstacles that are coming their way.

I think, for me, Dolores, this is the woman I know. These are the women that I grew up around. It was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to embody that, and yeah, pay tribute to that spirit that is indomitable. That spirit that is like, “Okay, I gotta wash the dishes. I gotta raise the pigs, bring home the bacon and then fry it, okay!” I think what our filmmaker did so well was just not make it heavy-handed.

And I think, for me, that’s what I’m just drawn to in filmmaking, I’m drawn to you being able to walk away and tell us exactly what you felt and what you saw and what you appreciate about the film, without us having to go and spoon-feed it to you and beat you over the head with it. So yeah, I mean, I love the film so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for seeing it and appreciating the intention behind it.

RP: Thank you both for the answer, I appreciate it. You can check out more interviews at ReggiePonder.com. I’m on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @TheReelCritic, that’s R-E-E-L, and thank you for listening.