Set It Off Analysis

The specific scene that I am discussing from the film Set It Off occurs only 10 minutes and 7 seconds into the movie. The scene only lasts about one minute and 40 seconds. The scene involves almost all of the main characters, except for one. Lida “Stoney” Newsome, Cleopatra “Cleo” Sims, Tisean “T.T.” Williams, and their boss Luther. The only character missing is Francesca “Frankie” Sutton. Stoney is played by Jada Pinkett, Cleo is played by Queen Latifah, T.T., is played by Kimberly Elise, Frankie is played by Vivica A. Fox, and Luther is played by Thomas Jefferson Byrd. All three of the girls in these scene work for Luther’s cleaning service (Set It Off).

This specific scene is an example of speaking out against gender exploitation, the exploitation is committed by Luther. Luther cusses at, yells at, and speaks inappropriately and rudely to each worker. The characters Cleo and Stoney speak up for themselves

and for T.T., they do this by yelling back at Luther about how he is speaking to them. For example, when Luther says “Look, if you don’t like working for Luther’s Janitorial, why don’t you just take your broke ass home. Otherwise shut the fuck up and get back to work!” Both Cleo and Stoney both yell and cuss back Luther, and although he doesn’t seem to care, at least they spoke up (Set It Off).
The mise en scene is this specific scene uses lighting, props, costumes, and composition of the actors in order to tell the story.

First, the lighting is very bleak and dim. The scene takes place after the characters are done working and they are undoubtedly tired and the lighting is used in this way to showcase how the characters are feeling. Second, the props around the actors also contribute to telling the story by showing the audience that this is their workplace, the truck, the brooms, the trash can, and cleaning supplies all around them are what achieves this. The costumes also contribute to the mise en scene by telling the audience clearly that the three girls are the employees and that Luther is the boss of them. The composition of the actors is also a part of the mise en scene and important to telling the story. The actors are positioned in ways to reaffirm that Luther is the boss, and also to let the audience know the girls are tired from working. The way they are slouched and resting against props is what achieves the mood of the scene (Set It

Off).
Comparing this movie to Brown Sugar I find that there are almost no similarities between these films, they are vastly different. Both of the films, like all films, use mise en scene, but this is the extent of the similarities. The main characters in Set It Off live in the projects and work very hard for the little bit they have, that is what leads them to robbing banks. The main characters in Brown Sugar have successful jobs, and while they may work hard, they are definitely given more than the charters in Set It Off.