CHILDREN ARE OFF LIMITS from 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks on Vimeo. Last week Spike Lee faced additional criticism surrounding the ;Dec. 4 release of his film, “Chi-Raq.” Since the trailer’s release Tuesday critics have slammed the film for taking a comedic approach to addressing Chicago’s gun violence ;problems, while others have stated that Lee “owes” the city an apology. Now, the filmmaker has responded to critics by clarifying the film’s context and introducing a new clip. “The trailer was released and there’s various humorous moments in the trailer. Some people are getting it twisted, and thinking this is a …
Last week Spike Lee faced additional criticism surrounding the ;Dec. 4 release of his film, “Chi-Raq.” Since the trailer’s release Tuesday critics have slammed the film for taking a comedic approach to addressing Chicago’s gun violence ;problems, while others have stated that Lee “owes” the city an apology.
Now, the filmmaker has responded to critics by clarifying the film’s context and introducing a new clip.
“The trailer was released and there’s various humorous moments in the trailer. Some people are getting it twisted, and thinking this is a comedy. ‘Chi-Raq’ is not a comedy. ‘Chi-Raq’ is a satire,” he said in a clip posted on his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks Vimeo channel. “There’s a difference between humor and comedy. In no way, shape or form are we not respectful of the situation that’s happening in ‘Chi-Raq’. In no way, ;shape or form are we making light of the lives that have been murdered in this senseless violence. People, don’t get it twisted. This film is about serious business.”
Lee added that some other films, which he didn’t name, ;have taken a satirical approach while highlighting serious topics.
“There are many films that we can look in the history of American cinema that treated very serious subject matter and had humor in them,” he said. “There’s an old statement; ‘I gotta laugh to keep from crying,’ well I think that’s apropos with ‘Chi-Raq’. Don’t get it twisted.”
Check out more of Spike Lee’s thoughts in the clip above.
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