Spike Lee, a notable movie director and creator, broke the stereotypical barriers of relationships when he made the now iconic TV show, “She’s Gotta Have It.” The Netflix show is based off of Lee’s debut film, She’s Gotta Have It, which was released in 1986 during an era where polygamy, typically for women, was generally frowned upon. Spike broke into the film scene with such a risque plot, the movie wasn’t appreciated until he made it into a 2017 TV series.
The concept revolves around the protagonist, Nola Darling, a polyamorous pansexual juggling a relationship with three contrasting male lovers. Greer Childs, Mars Blackmon, and Jamie Overstreet all aware of each other roles in the relationship engage in a heated battle of winning Nola’s love or rather a prolonged stay in her “loving bed”.
The movie remains black and white for the duration of the movie emitting a nostalgic feel of Brooklyn, New York in 1986. It shows the different aspects of Nola Darling relationship with the different men. The first relationship in her love triangle began with the established and refined Jamie Overstreet. Overstreet pursues Nola vigorously and without shame. His main competition is Nola’s only female admirer Opal. Opal discreetly makes advances on Nola but is repeatedly shrug off as a schoolgirl crush, which Nola turns Opal infatuation into her private confidant. When Nola isn’t making love to Jamie or confiding in Opal she’s laughing with Mars or indulging in Greer Child’s vain aspirations. The one scene that is color in the move is when Jamie creates this romantic picnic date and shows her the meaning of true love. Unfortunately for Jamie, Nola indulges only for a moment in Jamie’s monogamous love but soon feels confined and enslaved. The film ends with Nola swearing off the enslavement of monogamy and returns to her loving bed alone.
This movie is a powerful reference for women searching for an alternative form of relationship and it shows that one doesn’t have to be a sex addict to enjoy relations with multiple partners. It’s also a tool to empower black women and their sexuality. Lee shows black woman empowerment by characterizing Nola as strong-minded black women who does not take bull shit from anyone. Furthermore, Lee movie creates an aura of acceptance for women to lavish in the sexual curiosity of other women and not conform to the norm of heterosexuality and monogamy.Overall, Spike Lee created a astounding movie in the 80’s about sexual liberation of the progressive black women.
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