Fences is part of a cycle of 10 plays about the africanamerican experience that amounts to a critique of the american dream from the standpoint of. Jan 05, 2017 denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an excellent movie rather than a turgid one, and consistently inspired performances. Washington himself plays the lead, troy maxson, a middleaged african american in 1950s. The movie sheds light on various themes such as family dynamics, personal truths, and above all the power of forgiveness. Previously, washington directed the 2002 movie antwone fisher and the 2007 movie the great debaters. Either we indoctrinate ourselves against that which we saw as wrong with our parents, or we catch their disease. When one reads fences, yes it is about the struggle of african americans in the time period, but it also incorporates baseball as multiple plot elements, and a metaphor for life. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. However as we dive deeper into the story of troy maxon, suppressed emotions and family. Theres his best friend, bono, whom he met while in prison.
An africanamerican man in his fifties, troy has been married to his wife rose for eighteen years, and they have a teenage son named cory. With denzel washington, viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo. He is also ashamed because he realizes that the only way he could afford the house is through his brother a mentally unstable wwii veteran and the disability. The play follows troy maxson, a 53yearold man who struggles to provide for his wife and son in a time when slavery is over but the civil rights movement has still not come to fruition. Fences, the pulitzer prizewinning drama by august wilson, was written in 1983 and had its premiere on broadway in 1987. This lesson will provide a scenebyscene summary of august wilsons play fences 1986 and give a brief analysis of the multiple meanings of the fences to which the title refers. The yard is a small dirt yard, partially fenced, except for the last scene, with a wooden sawhorse, a pile of lumber, and other fencebuilding. Like all of the pittsburgh plays, fences explores the evolving african american experience and examines race relations, among other themes. His troy, fencess protagonist and antagonist, is both a defeated man and often a defeater of other men. Fences is a drama genre movie directed by denzel washington and written by august wilson, based on his play of the same name. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of fences by august wilson. Instead, he tries his best to be a good husband and father. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. And perhaps thats why wilson never made much of an effort to put his plays on film.
Unfortunately, when professional teams finally start accepting black people into their lineup, he is too old to fulfill his dream. Nov 22, 2016 fences, the pulitzer prizewinning drama by august wilson, was written in 1983 and had its premiere on broadway in 1987. Troy maxson, the father of the family, was a baseball player in. Fences is a poignant commentary on the meaning of life. But the play is set 30 years before that, in a lowermiddlecl. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of fences and what it means. On the surface, it seems pretty obvious where the plays title comes from troy and cory spend a lot of time building a fence. The play fences is about troy maxson, a middleaged black man, and his struggles. Advertisement autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. Fences takes place in the front yard of troys ancient twostory brick house.
The last scene takes place in 1965, on the day of the funeral of the. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in wilsons tenpart pittsburgh cycle. There were 4 other movies released on the same date, including hidden figures, 20th century women and live by. Over the course of the play, we see the fence gradually reach completion. Fences is a 1985 play by american playwright august wilson. Feb 06, 2017 the equalizer 2 all clips and trailer compilation denzel washington action thriller sequel duration. The play begins on a friday, troy and bonos payday. Set in pittsburgh in the 1950s, fences explores the experience of one black family living in the era of segregation and a burgeoning black rights movement, exposing, at the heart of its characters psychology, a dynamic. Denzel washingtons oscardestined drama, fences, based on the tony award and pulitzer prizewinning 1987 play by august wilson, is the story of troy maxson, a 53yearold black man in. Fences best quotes, which includes some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep people in. The play fences, written by august wilson, begins in 1957 and focuses on the protagonist troy maxson. In addition to washington, the film also stars viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and saniyya sidney. Fences is part of a cycle of 10 plays about the africanamerican experience that amounts to a critique of the american dream from the standpoint of people intent. Fences is a 2016 american period drama film starring, produced and directed by denzel washington and written by august wilson, based on his pulitzer prizewinning play of the same name.
Denzel washington directed and stars in this adaptation of august wilsons pulitzer prizewinning play, which centers on a black garbage collector named troy maxson in 1950s pittsburgh. Troy will be king inside that fence, monarch and master of a postagestamp plot of concrete and weeds and bare earth. The central action of fences unfolds in the space of a few months in the late 1950s. The sixth play in august wilsons pittsburgh cycle, fences takes place in 1957 in what is assumed to be pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Troy maxson denzel washington makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s pittsburgh. The story is set in 1950s and follows an african american father, troy maxson denzel washington, a former league baseball player, now working as a waste. Troy and bono go to troys house for their weekly ritual of drinking and talking. The friends, both trash collectors, discuss their boss, rand.
Fences study guide contains a biography of august wilson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Fences story, fences hollywood movie story, plot, synopsis. Fences is a play by august wilson in which frustrated protagonist troy alienates his family through a series of tragic decisions. Dec 16, 2016 fences is a drama genre movie directed by denzel washington and written by august wilson, based on his play of the same name. In addition to washington, the film also stars viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and saniyya sidney principal photography on the film began on april 25. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. That week troy asked his boss why white men do the driving while the black men do the lifting. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in fences, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Everything you need to know about fences movie 2016. Fences act i, scene 2 summary and analysis gradesaver. Drama directed by and starring denzel washington based on a play of the same name. Fences looks like a simple title, but by the time you get to the end to the play, you just might see that it has lots of meanings. With two pulitzer prizes and his tenplay magnum opus, the pittsburgh cycle, of which fences is the sixth work, wilson takes his rightful place.
Dec 23, 2016 fences is a film about how our environment shapes us, and how, no matter how noble their intentions, our parents cant help but mess us up in some fashion, just as their parents had done for them. Fences summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Fences is, since it debuted in the early 80s, a symbol of how live theater can still inspire. Fences official trailer 1 2016 denzel washington, viola davis drama movie hd. The original 1983 play by august wilson won the 1987 pulitzer prize for drama as well as the 1987 tony award for best play. Read the fences plot and find out who is in the cast and crew at. Feb 09, 2017 but sitting down to this movie sometimes feels like being told to eat up your healthy green vegetables. Fences is a film about an emotionally damaged man who struggles with his past while at the same time trying to provide for his family. As they talk, we learn that troy has confronted their boss, mr. Fences opens in 1957 with 53yearold troy maxson and old friend jim bono drinking on troys porcha friday night ritual. Denzel washington, viola davis, jovan adepo, stephen henderson, mykelti williamson, russell hornsby, saniyya sidney our rating. But sitting down to this movie sometimes feels like being told to eat up your healthy green vegetables.
Fences was released in 2016 on sunday, december 25, 2016 in nationwide movie theaters. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing fences near you. The significance of play fence by august wilsons start from the setting part partially he was trying to show the structure of troy family. Not only does denzel washington play the lead role in fences, but he also is the movies director. Fences is a poignant commentary on the meaning of life, for. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing broken fences near you. The play, fences by august wilson describes the life of an africanamerican family that is por. An african american father struggles with race relations in the united states while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life. Denzel washingtons performance in the movie fences is way more interesting than in the magnificent seven. Rand, about the fact that only whites are assigned to drive the trucks at their garbage collection company, while black employees are hired exclusively to carry the garbage. Rand, their boss, why the black employees arent allowed to drive the garbage trucks, only to lift. The first act of the play is a swirling portrait of troy maxsons life. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
A workingclass africanamerican father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life. Now the two work together as garbage collectors and sip gin every friday night. Denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an excellent movie rather than a turgid one, and consistently inspired performances. This repeated scenario forms the basis of august wilsons pulitzer prizewinning play, fences. The equalizer 2 all clips and trailer compilation denzel washington action thriller sequel duration. His troy, fences s protagonist and antagonist, is both a defeated man and often a defeater of other men. The house is a source of both pride and shame for troy.
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