Spike Lee returns to the directing arena with Da 5 Bloods, another masterpiece of a film that comments on today’s sociopolitical situation through a past lens. Following the success of BlacKkKlansman, where he delved into hate groups and the police force, he is now handling the topic of the Vietnam War.
Before the film’s Netflix release on June 12, the acclaimed auteur spoke with Screen Rant about the parallels he sees between America in the 1960s and today, and how his films hold up a mirror to the country.
I've got to say thank you for this film, because it's exactly the film I needed to see right now. I appreciate that. Thank you. This is obviously taking place in the Vietnam War, and obviously it was very similar to the times we're living in now. Why did you choose the Vietnam War as the backdrop to illuminate things that people can relate to now?
Spike Lee: Well, I did a film earlier, my brother, that dealt with World War II. The film's called Miracle at St. Anna and dealt with our brothers, The Buffalo Soldiers. Black soldiers who fought in World War II, 92nd Division; fought in Italy against Mussolini's fascists and Hitler's Nazis. The War ended in 1945; I was born in 1957.
1967, I'm 10 years old. The Vietnam War was the first war that was televised in American homes. So, I saw the Vietnam War on my television, and also I saw what was happening here in America. I'm revisiting my young life as a kid in Brooklyn and seeing these things all around me; young enough to understand what's happening and young enough not to be drafted. So, I was in the pockets.
A few of your cast [members] were talking to me about some research they did during the era. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is one of the first times that the military - or at least the army - was integrated and wasn't just segregated as it had been in the past. Is that correct?
Spike Lee: That's true. But there was still division between the black soldiers, because the black soldiers were being treated dirty. They were being sent right to the front line.
This truly is a new story with a new perspective, [like] BlacKkKlansman. One thing that I did notice that they have in common is that this is looking to our past era, which feels very contemporary. While we're not at war, we are fighting multiple battles and dealing with a leader who is blatantly divisive.
Spike Lee: But wait, don't leave out the pandemic. That's a war too. That 19 ain't playing.
That's absolutely true. Now, there's real symmetry between these two time periods. What do you think we can learn from that?
Spike Lee: I mean, it's almost a cliché - it is a cliché - that if you don't learn from history, you repeat it. But what was welcoming to me is the mosaic of the demonstrations. This reminds me of how it looked when I grew up during the 60s. And today, to see white brothers and sisters out there marching with their black and brown brothers and sisters, is like a throwback. It's revolutionary.
And in many cities across America, were they didn't know [black people]. How many black people are in Salt Lake City, Utah when NBA season is out and when the Jazz ain't playing? In Des Moines, Iowa. So, it's in area, cities, and towns with no black and brown people at all - and our white brothers and sisters are taking to the street. I feel very good about that.
Like I said, this is the exact movie I needed to see. It's mind blowing. It's interesting, because when you first started, you were opening the window into African Americans' lives and struggles. Now it seems your focus or mission has deterred a little bit, but it seems like your work is holding up a mirror and America is actually looking in. Talk to me a little bit about the exploration of justice in your films today.
Spike Lee: Well, to be honest, I felt Do The Right Thing held up a mirror and that was 31 years ago. So, I don't know if that's changed. Possibly, maybe people weren't looking into the mirror. But the mirror's been there, though. Whether people look at it or not, I got nothing to do with it. I can just put it out there.
