Movie Review - Goldie (2020)

This is the second feature from Dutch filmmaker, Sam de Jong. His debut was set in the Netherlands. This film is set in New York City, specifically the Bronx. Both films though center on a troubled teenager. Instead of a young white boy in northern Europe, we have a young black girl in the northern, United States. Both teens come from or live in impoverished areas or environments. Arguably, the protagonist in this feature is in a more impoverished environment and is in more dire circumstances, if maybe not as dangerous. Thankfully, this film doesn't wade into the kind of poverty porn that might bother some.

With this film, Sam de Jong veers into the lane previously inhabited by Sean Baker. Baker's previous two features, The Florida Project (2017) and Tangerine (2015), are probably the best comparisons. Those films like this one have almost a documentary-like feel to them or in narrative filmmaking what is called social realism. There isn't much artifice here. As I mentioned for Rashaad Ernesto Green's Premature (2020), which was released theatrically a week or two prior to this one, there is a verisimilitude here that is almost unflinching. It's almost heartbreaking in that it depicts the struggle, the real struggle that people face, a struggle that resonates all the way back to A Raisin in the Sun (1961), echoing that idea from Langston Hughes of a "dream deferred."

Slick Woods stars as Goldie, the street name for a black girl that lives in the Bronx. Her dream is to become a dancer and dance in a music video for a big-time rapper. She wants to be a music video star. She envisions herself in a sexy outfit that's not much more than a bikini but wrapped in a large, golden, fur coat. Rappers in fur coats is a tradition that goes back a long time. She also envisions herself in a long, blonde wig to match her fur coat. Her vision is somewhere between or even beyond Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim.

Right now though, she's basically homeless. She stays with her mother and two sisters in a shelter. The shelter is basically like an apartment building. Yet, her place is a one-room apartment where she, her mother and sisters all sleep on top of each other. Goldie makes a little money by working in a clothing store, but she gets fired from that job for being late. The reason that she's late is because she continues to chase after her dream of dancing. The opening scene has her running to a gig where she dances for free at a community center for not that large a crowd, but, as long as she's on a stage or performing for some media, she's happy. Yet, she does need some money for her and her family to survive.

Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us and Orange is the New Black) co-stars as Carol, the mother to Goldie. There is a lot that is unsaid about her character, but we get some idea of why she and her daughters are in a homeless shelter. She realizes that her family needs money to survive, but it seems like she's not able to hold a job for whatever reason, so she leans on a white man to help her. This white man, Frank, played by Danny Hoch (She's Gotta Have It and Maniac), is apparently a drug dealer who cares about them but is not really all that good for them.

The inciting incident is similar to that in George Tillman's The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013). The incident leaves Goldie having to scramble to make sure her family isn't lost to the welfare system. This film also has a similar energy to the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems (2019) where the protagonist had this almost manic vibe, which kept him moving from place to place, out of mostly necessity and desperation. Uncut Gems was about a man banking on a gamble that could or could not go his way. Here, Goldie is banking on a gamble of sorts as well. But, like Tillman's film or the recent Oscar-nominee, Capernaum (2018), it's less about a grown-up but more about a child having to navigate the cold and mean streets practically alone.

Aside from his star who plays the titular role, Sam de Jong picks up a lot of amazing actors whom most have probably never seen before and utilizes them to pretty great effect. This includes George Sample III who is a relatively new actor who I first saw in Hunter Gatherer (2016). Here, he plays Eli, a friend to Goldie who tries to help her but he has his limits and is one of several people who remind her of her limits, despite her wanting to achieve her dream of going beyond the limits of impoverished people in the Bronx. Jose Rodriguez (pictured) is also great as a guy who would use Goldie for his own ends.

One actress who has been seen before but who gets a significant role here is Edwina Findley Dickerson (If Loving You is Wrong and The Wire). Dickerson plays Janet, a teacher of Goldie who becomes a safe harbor for her when bitter homelessness is at hand. Also, shout out to Gbenga Akinnagbe. He's also from HBO's The Wire. Here, Akinnagbe plays Richard, the father to Goldie who represents a man who has moved onto a second family, having left or been kicked out of his first family's life.

I said there isn't much artifice, but there is some artifice. That artifice is added to maintain some amount of levity and humor here, less this film becomes too depressing. Slick Woods carries this film wonderfully and does a lot just from her presence and charm to keep things from slipping into maudlin. She also has a fierceness and strength to her that balances the vulnerability. She's perfect in this role. If you liked this film, check out Little Woods (2019), Night Comes On (2018) and Imperial Dreams (2016).

Not Rated but contains language and sexual situations.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 28 mins.

Available on VOD.