Monster’s Ball Examines Race by Emma Lundgren Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola: in an electrical chair, a black guy struggling for his breath, a crowd of white police officers. The power in the chair is turned off and the police officer in the chair is catching his breath. The audience is introduced to Monster’s Ball. Because of its complexity and changing modes, it is a difficult task to summarize this film. One could look at the story from two different perspectives: as a simple love story between a man and a woman that have all odds against them, or as a drama regarding racism in America. However, by singling out one as an interpretation, much of the film’s fundamental intentions are lost. Undated but set in Georgia, Monster’s Ball is the story of Hank (Billy Bob Thornton), an embittered prison guard working on Death Row. Hank lives with his son (Heath Ledger) and aging father (Peter Boyle), whose racial hatred seems to permeate the entire family. Hank’s son, Sonny, also works as a prison guard, but to his father’s chagrin Sonny doesn’t share his hatred for black people. Both Sonny’s father and grandfather regard him with disgust. At the other end is Leticia (Halle Berry), a black waitress who works at a local diner. Unfortunately, there is not much information given regarding Leticia’s family history or why she was isolated in the community. We do learn that her husband Musgrave (Sean “Puffy” Combs) is imprisoned and sentenced to death, that she struggles with rent and alcohol abuse as well as with her overweight son Tyrell. Hank walks into the local diner where Leticia works and they meet for the first time. After meeting again an unlikely affair begins. They both have difficulties functioning in society, but, surprisingly enough, their relationship brings out the best in them. Crucial obstacles, such as Hank’s racism and Leticia’s recent loss of her husband regrettably fade into the background. Some of the subjects regarding the racial discussion include the portrayal of Hanks as the “white savior.” When Leticia is thrown out on the street because she can’t pay her rent, Hank happens to pass by in his car. We can understand this scene symbolically as executing the black man (Musgrave) and carrying off with the black woman (Leticia). On the other hand, one can look at this scene as just a love story without color playing a major role. These are just two people who have lost everything and find comfort in being with each other. Dirctor Marc Forster’s previous film, Everything Put Together, has a lot in common with Monster’s Ball. Both films attempt to crate a sympathetic portrait of an over-worked, alienated woman adrift in a hostile, suffocating suburban environment. However, Monster’s Ball is less successful. Like Roman Polanksi’s masterpieces, Repulsion and Rosemary’s Baby, Forster portrays a woman’s despair in a harsh society. Although I started out saying that the love story shouldn’t be separated from the racial context in the film, the lack of connection between the two becomes one of the most obvious problems in the movie. Because crucial obstacles are toned down, the poignancy of the film is lost. For instance, director Marc Forster’s attempt to create a sympathetic portrait of an over-worked, alienated woman adrift in a hostile, suffocating suburban environment, is unsuccessful. Because of the limitations in Leticia’s character, it is difficult to be very involved in her distress. “I felt a deep connection to Leticia’s spirit and her heart,” says Berry. “I understand what it’s like to struggle and be behind the eight ball and want to achieve and be successful and make something good out of your life. She’s filled with a lot of pain, as I am. For me, the role was being able to tap into that pain in order to bring the character to life.” Monster’s Ball has been strongly criticized because of how it deals with racism. Forster’s message in the film is that love defeats racism. “The way Halle plays Leticia, she has a chip on her shoulder because there is so much racism in her world,” Forster said. “Yet in spite of this, or maybe because of it, Leticia is surprised by Hank. She is curious to find out what kind of man he really is…He is maybe not such a monster after all.”

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