History Film / MaRaineysBlackBottom

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7js5ur3an3u51.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"This'd be an empty world without the blues."'']]

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Given the film's emphasis on the struggles of African-Americans in the early 20th Century, it's fairly safe to say most if not all of the characters have this to some degree. Cutler references a friend of his who was a devout priest who simply wound up [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in a far less racially tolerant part of America]] than he'd meant to be and was abused and harrassed by white men for it. Levee himself definitely has one; which he explains in detail when the others [[BerserkButton mock him for being afraid of the white man.]] [[spoiler:He lived in Mississippi and his father was a successful farmer, but despite being hardworking and honest, they were black and [[SarcasmMode of course this was unacceptably to white folk.]] His mother was attacked (and quite likely gang-raped) by a group of racist white men while his father was in town one night, and Levee (only eight years old) tried to save her with his father's knife, which very nearly ended up getting him killed when they attacked him for it (he still has the considerably large scar on his chest) and his father was brutally lynched not long after for attempting to get revenge on the men for what they did to his family ([[DyingMomentOfAwesome which to be fair, of the eight/nine men responsible, he managed to kill four]]). No wonder he's so messed up.]]

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Given the film's emphasis on the struggles of African-Americans in the early 20th Century, it's fairly safe to say most if not all of the characters have this to some degree. Cutler references a friend of his who was a devout priest who simply wound up [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in a far less racially tolerant part of America]] than he'd meant to be and was abused and harrassed by white men for it. Levee himself definitely has one; which he explains in detail when the others [[BerserkButton mock him for being afraid of the white man.]] [[spoiler:He lived in Mississippi and his father was a successful farmer, but despite being hardworking and honest, they were black and [[SarcasmMode of course this was unacceptably to white folk.]] His mother was attacked (and quite likely gang-raped) by a group of racist white men while his father was in town one night, and Levee (only eight years old) tried to save her with his father's knife, which very nearly ended up getting him killed when they attacked him for it (he still has the considerably large scar on his chest) and his father was brutally lynched not long after for attempting to get revenge on the men for what they did to his family ([[DyingMomentOfAwesome which to be fair, of the eight/nine men responsible, he managed to kill four).]]]]

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Given the film's emphasis on the struggles of African-Americans in the early 20th Century, it's fairly safe to say most if not all of the characters have this to some degree. Cutler references a friend of his who was a devout priest who simply wound up [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in a far less racially tolerant part of America]] than he'd meant to be and was abused and harrassed by white men for it. Levee himself definitely has one; which he explains in detail when the others [[BerserkButton mock him for being afraid of the white man.]] [[spoiler:He lived in Mississippi and his father was a successful farmer, but despite being hardworking and honest, they were black and [[SarcasmMode of course this was unacceptably to white folk.]] His mother was attacked (and quite likely gang-raped) by a group of racist white men while his father was in town one night, and Levee (only eight years old) tried to save her with his father's knife, which very nearly ended up getting him killed when they attacked him for it (he still has the considerably large scar on his chest) and his father was brutally lynched not long after for attempting to get revenge on the men for what they did to his family ([[DyingMomentOfAwesome which to be fair, of the eight/nine men responsible, he managed to kill four).]]

-->'''Ma Rainey'''

%%
%%
%% Speculative troping is not allowed on TV Tropes.
%%
%% We trope what DOES happen in works, not what MIGHT happen or is LIKELY to happen.
%%
%% For unreleased works where all we have to go on is advertising and other supplemental materials, we have some detailed guidelines, which can be found at Administrivia/CreatingAWorkPageForAnUpcomingWork.
%%
%% If you have questions, please consult the Unreleased Work Speculation Cleanup thread at https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15514631230A64268600
%%
%% Thank you.
%%
%%

''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'' is a 2020 American {{biopic}} film directed by George C. Wolfe, written by Creator/RubenSantiagoHudson and produced by Creator/DenzelWashington. It is based on ''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'', the second stage play of August Wilson's ''"Pittsburgh Cycle"''. It stars Creator/ViolaDavis and Creator/ChadwickBosemanis, and is the final film in which Boseman played before his passing on August 28, 2020.

''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'' is a 2020 American {{biopic}} film directed by George C. Wolfe, written by Creator/RubenSantiagoHudson and produced by Creator/DenzelWashington. It is based on ''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'', the second stage play of August Wilson's ''"Pittsburgh Cycle"''. It is the final film in which Creator/ChadwickBoseman played before his passing on August 28, 2020.

* {{Jerkass}}: While he's a sympathetic character, Levee is ultimately this. He's self absorbed, rude, cuckolds Ma Rainey, is intolerant of Cutler's religious beliefs, and in the end [[spoiler: murders Toledo over him stepping on his shoe]].

* {{Jerkass}}: While he's a sympathetic character, Levee is ultimately this. He's self absorbed, rude, cuckolds Ma Rainey, is intolerant of Cutler's religious beliefs, and in the end [[spoiler: murders Toledo over a highly trivial matter]].