One of my favorite August Wilson plays, “Fences” the movie provides us with the complexity of being human. It is not an easy story to watch at times. Mr. Wilson did not mean it to be. It shows us both the bad and the good “the crooked and the straight” and makes us think. Yes, there is lots of dialogue which younger viewers (or those that have not been to a play) may not follow easily. There is much to learn and digest here about the complicated relationship between fathers and sons of color—the generational impact of racism, rage and bitterness.
Denzel’s performance is nothing short of masterful in portraying Troy. Viola Davis brings a sweet sadness to her role. She has accepted her life as wife/mother (as many women did during that time) with all focus on Troy. She proves to be powerful and strong.
Underneath a story that may at first seem to be a simplistic “life in the day of”, Wilson’s “Fences” allows us to witness the painful unraveling of a man enveloped in bitterness but reaching for the light.