Main Cast: Ariyan Johnson, Tony Wilkes, Johnny Roses, Kevin Thigpen, Ebony Jerido, Kishaa Richardson, Money Dunham, Chequita Jackson, William Badget, Wendell Moore
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A teen girl struggles to reconcile her desire for self-improvement with her rebellious nature and her lack of maturity in this coming-of-age drama, which won first-time director Leslie Harris a special jury prize at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. Chantel (Ariyan Johnson), the self-possessed eldest child of hard-working parents in a Brooklyn housing project, hangs with her homegirls, helps out at home, studies hard, and holds down a part-time job. Stymied by teachers whose lessons she doesn't find relevant, Chantel asks her guidance counselor to let her graduate early so she can get a jump on college and eventually medical school; he declines, telling her that her explosive temper proves she lacks the necessary maturity. Meanwhile, frustrated by her responsibilities at home, Chantel begins making time with boys -- first with her broke but sweet neighbor, Gerard (Jerard Washington), then with the financially well-off, parentally unsupervised Tyrone (Kevin Thigpen), who refuses to wear a condom when Chantel begins having sex with him. When she becomes pregnant, Tyrone flips out and tries to pressure her into having an abortion; Chantel refuses, goes deep into denial, hides her pregnancy, and alienates even her best friend, Natete (Ebony Jerido). Reportedly shot for 100,000 dollars in just 17 days, Just Another Girl was billed as the first film ever written, directed, and produced by an African-American woman. The actors are mostly unknowns, although star Johnson would go on to appear in Hollywood features such as Bulworth and The General's Daughter. The hip-hop-heavy soundtrack made prominent and repeated use of rapper Nikki D's "Daddy's Little Girl," whose lyrics echo the film's story line and whose chorus samples "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
Unorthodox in its point of view but dogmatic in its presentation thereof, Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. is a bit of a mixed bag. Writer/director/producer Leslie Harris injects the gangsta-centric world of early-'90s African-American cinema with an all-too-rare depiction of an uncompromising young black woman. Lead actress Ariyan Johnson is a forceful screen presence who brings her mercurial character vividly to life, while the supporting players, though sometimes amateurish, help establish a nicely detailed social world for Johnson's Chantel to inhabit. The film works best in its slice-of-life early scenes, especially those involving Chantel's interactions with her friends and parents. These sequences establish the pressures and pleasures of a typical urban black girl with easy humor and unselfconscious drama. The relationships between Chantel and her competing suitors are nicely played out, while the party scenes are stylishly shot and there's plenty of believable chemistry between the protagonist and her girlfriends. Unfortunately, though, Harris doesn't integrate her sermons about the issues facing African-American girls very well into her dialogue or story line. A scene involving snooty white customers talking down to Chantel at work is amusing though too broadly written, while a confrontation between Chantel and a history teacher, whose lesson about the Holocaust strikes her as irrelevant, seems stagy and stiff -- designed to make a point rather than tell a story. These scenes, plus the sudden plot twists of the film's climax and its too-tidy epilogue, may leave audiences with a negative impression of a film with many fine qualities and well-played scenes. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Cast
Ariyan Johnson - Chantel Mitchell
Tony Wilkes - Owen Mitchell
Kevin Thigpen - Tyrone
Johnny Roses - Mr. Weinberg
Ebony Jerido - Natete
Kishaa Richardson - Lavonica
Chequita Jackson - Paula
Money Dunham - Denisha
William Badget - Cedrick
Wendell Moore - Mr. Moore
Jerard Washington - Gerard; Laura Ross - Woman Customer; Ron L. Cox - Clinic Doctor; Richie Carter - Rashawn; Mwata Cofer - Amiri; Shawn King - Andre; Lynn Franklin - Social Worker; Erwin Wilson - Policeman 1; Thomas L. Thomas - Policeman 2; Nicholas B. Carter - Child Who Opens Bag; Jasmine Thomas - Chantel and Ty's Baby; Moise Dominique - Newborn Baby; Karen Robinson - Debra Mitchell; Gary Perez - Store Manager
Credit
Nelson George - Associate Producer, Leslie Harris - Director, Jack Haigis - Editor, Eric Sadler - Composer (Music Score), Karen Robinson - Makeup, Michael O'Dell Green - Production Designer, Richard Connors - Cinematographer, Leslie Harris - Producer, Erwin Wilson - Producer, Leslie Harris - Screenwriter
Chantel Mitchell (Ariyan A. Johnson) is an African-American, 17-year-old high school junior who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Chantel is very smart and articulate, although her sharp tongue, abundant ego, and occasional naivete undermine her efforts. Her ultimate dream is to leave her poor neighborhood, go to college, and eventually become a doctor. Throughout the movie, Chantel breaks the fourth wall and states that she wants to be seen as more than just another teenage black girl on the subway. Hence, the "I.R.T." in the film's title stands for "Interborough Rapid Transit Company", and specifically references the IRT Lexington Avenue Line of the New York City Subway system. However, there is only one scene in the film where Chantel is actually in the subway.
She lives with her struggling working-class parents and her two younger brothers. With her mother working during the day and her father working the night shift and hence sleeping all day, Chantel is given the responsibility of taking care of her brothers in addition to going to school full-time and working a part-time job at a local grocery store.
However, she earns mostly A's and B's in school, and is fully determined to receive an education beyond her primary one. Much to the chagrin of her teachers, she wants to graduate early in order to get into college as soon as possible. Her dream is tested with her constant clashes with her school's administration, and her recent romantic involvement with her seemingly-rich boyfriend Tyrone (Kevin Thigpen). She becomes pregnant and undermines herself with false confidence and lack of real worldly knowledge.
Production
The film was shot entirely on location in New York City. With a budget of only $100,000, the entire film was reportedly shot in just 17 days[1].
Reaction
The film received decidedly mixed reviews upon its release. As of March 2008, the film has a "fresh" rating of 67% at Rotten Tomatoes[2]. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine was among some of the critics to rave about the film, stating that it was "A cause for celebration! Explosively funny, deeply moving . . . 'Just Another Girl' is not just another movie"[3].
Availability
It was released on VHS in October 1993, and on DVD in May 2002. The DVD contains no special features, including subtitles, and is still in print and available to own as of 2008.
