“People don’t notice how expensive it is to be poor,” said supporting character Isabella, played by Diva Tyler. Silence fills the air with each passing second, tension permeating the gentle gazes passed amongst one another. This statement resonates well with those who have gone through the motions of financial instability – especially when children come into the picture. From the very beginning, Straw beautifully introduces the reader headfirst to the struggles of black motherhood through the accurate portrayal of strain by the famous actress Taraji P. Henson.
Straw is an entirely fictional, original drama directed by Tyler Perry, following the story of Janiyah Wilkinson and her struggles with balancing motherhood and her own life. In a single day, her circumstances take a twist for the worse, and Wilkinson is met with consistent challenges that she must learn to navigate with the consideration of her child.
It’s yet another formulaic Tyler Perry movie, which is consistently based around the struggles of black women alike. For example, A Fall From Grace, which is a thriller centered around an African American woman trying to work around the false accusation of a crime upon herself.
The story was relatively simple, but reflected the emotional weight of each inconvenience well without the need for complexity. Although it’s a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment, Sam gives a perplexed glance toward Janiyah when dropping off her child, hinting at the resolution of the story from the very beginning. The final two potential endings tie everything together, giving the story a much better impression than the route it initially seemed to be going because you can interpret it how you please.
The movie was written, filmed, and produced only within the span of four days. Teyana Taylor and Taraji P. Henson have a history of acting in dramatic movies, explaining their roles as focal characters throughout the narrative of Straw.
Taraji’s performance as Janiyah created many harsh feelings in those who relate to the struggle of motherhood. Although the mannerisms and behavior of a lot of the characters seemed a little repetitive at times, even the repetition of things said, such as “I don’t think you have this handled,” claimed Agent Bryce, you are missing something here to end your sentence
Tyler Perry uses the soundtrack well to communicate the tension of the situations, dulling external noise and music once the characters begin conversing with each other to make the situation feel more inclusive. It enables the viewer to feel as if they’re actually in the bank with them, as well as when Janiyah is stressed out, the music reflects her change in mood and festering anxiety to establish an emotional connection.
Although the pacing is considerably fast at the beginning of the movie, it slows to reflect the gravity of the situation through the lengthy bank scene that makes up the majority of it.
Despite the few faults that the movie may have with its inconsistent pacing and the simplicity of the plot, the emotional weight is communicated well. The development of the characters throughout the movie and the progressive show of understanding reflect the struggles of motherhood well enough to make this a great film.
