Film - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

One, two, you know what to do

Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) is one woman that has gained the respect (control) of the white man. 

As Mother of the Blues, she leads a group of musicians and is clearly opening doors for those that come behind her. 

While the rest are grateful for their lot,  just to be able to earn some money doing something they are good (amazing) at and living another day she commands respect from all, no matter what their colour. One young black musician gets taken for a ride by a white record company exec who tells him his compositions are rubbish but will ‘take them off his hands’ leads to dire consequences.

In the 1920s, the weight of the black population seems to be on Ma Rainey. 

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is another one (like Picket Fences) that’s based on a play and I can see it working well on a stage. On film it is loaded and just so very angry, aided by the amazing performances.

6/10