Analysis of the Movie Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee

Analysis of the Movie Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee

The movie, Do the Right Thing, by Spike Lee is a hard

hitting drama that deals with violence and racism in today's

society. This film is set in a primarily black neighborhood in

close to the present time. Right in the center of this

neighborhood stands a pizza parlor that is owned and

operated by one of the most important characters in the

movie, Sal. In the beginning of the movie, Sal is shown

arriving to work with his two sons Pino and Vito. This gives

an appeal to Sal as a family man. Right from the start Sal is

portrayed as a hard working, kind, and devoted individual.

Just the fact that he owns his own business in these rough

and tough times shows that he is a smart, efficient, and

dedicated man. Later in the movie we learn that Sal did in

fact build his pizzeria by himself from the ground up, brick

by brick, board by board which was no little task indeed.

The fact that Sal gets to share his creation and hard work

with his sons makes it all the more special to him. After Sal

has finished his pre-opening preparations Sal's Pizzeria is

open for the day. Shortly after this, the main character of

the movie, Mookie, comes strolling into the restaurant.

Mookie works as the delivery man for Sal in this movie.

Mookie literally delivers pizza, yes, but he also acts as a

mediator between the two races. Sal relies on Mookie not

only to get the pizzas delivered, but to also keep his fellow

black folks happy with Sal so they will come and patronize

his restaurant. I think that this shows a very interesting side

of Sal. It for the most part pawns him off as a racist. On the

one hand he can put on a happy face and greet all the black

people as they shell their hard earned money out to him for

his pizza, while on the other hand he turns into a bigot,

hating most black people and talking behind their back

while they are not around. Now I say most black people

because Sal seems to have this father-son bond going on

between him and Mookie where Sal is the white father and

Mookie the black son who in the end finally rebels like all

siblings do at some time in their life. Also Sal seems to have

some kind of affection or love for Mookie's sister, Jade.

When she enters the pizza parlor Sal insists, if not begs to