Goldie (2020) - Review, Summary (with Spoilers)

In this coming of age tale, as with many set in an urban area, everything is about that one chance to make it and if things don’t come together, the worst happening.

Director(s)	Sam De Jong
Screenplay By	Sam De Jong
Date Released (Video on Demand)	2/21/2020
Genre(s)	Adventure, Crime, Drama, Young Adult
Duration	1 Hour, 28 Minutes
Noted Cast
Goldie	Slick Woods
Richard	Gbenga Akinnagbe
Carol	Marsha Stephanie Blake
Supreme	Jazmyn Dorsey
Sherrie	Alana Tyler-Tompkins
Eli	George Sample III
Princess	Shaquila Angela Griszell
José	Jose Rodriguez
Janet	Edwina Findley

This content contains pertinent spoilers.

Plot Summary/ Review (Ending Spoilers & Sequel Potential on the 2nd Page)

18-year-old Goldie hasn’t necessarily had the easiest life. Her father, Richard, she knows where he lives and can talk to him, but he isn’t an active member of her life. Her mother, Carol, is trying to make ends meet, but struggles. And with two younger sisters, Supreme and Sherrie, to say her mom has a lot to deal with would be an understatement. However, upon an incident early in the film, Goldie is forced to take on the responsibility of looking out for her sisters as she tries to set up herself a career in entertainment.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

What happened between Richard and Carol?

Highlights

Goldie’s Journey

Goldie (Slick Woods) early in the film "Goldie" — Goldie (Slick Woods)

While Goldie’s story is by no means a happy one, it reminds you of the hope and joy which comes from thinking you have options, that you’ll have opportunities, and that you won’t be swallowed by where you grew up. Which isn’t to say it isn’t made clear from her relationship to José to her father seemingly not being in her life, there are dark clouds in the distance. Yet, to see Goldie smile, aspire for something, hustle to get it, and know when to persevere and when to walk away, there is a beautiful mix of joy and aspiration and that coming of age element you don’t get to see too many Black girls experience since usually they aren’t focused on.

And that is perhaps one of the best parts of the film. For while Goldie’s story doesn’t represent every and any Black girl, there is something about knowing this is a very specific experience, and it is that of a young Black woman that you have to appreciate. Not the struggle, not the way the film ends, but that Goldie is shown to be an entire human being. One who isn’t made out to be a statistic, some hood chick or whatever. Goldie is aware of one way to survive and is trying to do better than that and thrive. Which is the key to you watching to the end, the hope her dreams come true before the credits roll, or at least being told things got better.

Establishing Goldie’s Community

Throughout the film, we’re introduced to a litany of characters ranging from one of Goldie’s high school teachers, a friend from work, a guy who works on music videos, and so much more. In seeing these people, all with different looks and vibes, you get a real sense of the area Goldie grew up in. Also, with characters like Eli, Princess, and others being people who exist, they are given the ability to be seen as human beings. Ones that, yes, may seem annoying, have a sordid past or aren’t necessarily thriving right now, but just as Goldie is allowed to be flawed yet deserving of better, the same love is given to nearly all the characters.

Overall

Advised For Those Who Like:

Urban stories featuring Black people
Coming of age stories featuring Black women

Would Watch Again? – One and Done

Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

“Goldie” may not be worth putting on a pedestal, but there is no denying Slick Woods, alongside Sam De Jong gave us an authentic young woman, in a very real world, whose story wasn’t meant to be sunshine, daisies, and without realism. And it is in deciding to not handhold and clue you into Goldie’s struggles that leads to this getting the positive label. Overall, “Goldie” presents a simple but effective story that gets you emotionally invested and hoping for the best despite the many possibilities of the worst possibly happening.

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“Goldie” Ending Spoilers

Goldie (Slick Woods) in a blonde wig and yellow mink coat. — Goldie (Slick Woods)

In the end, the music video shoot Goldie was prepping for, it isn’t as big of a deal as she thought. It’s on a set in an empty lot, the budget is dirt, she is getting only $100 after all she spent to look fly for the video, and to make matters worse, she doesn’t get to dance nor wear the multi-hundred dollar coat she bought for it. Instead, she sits on a motorcycle until she decides to just walk away from it all.

And with reality hitting a bit too hard, Goldie decides to just allow her sisters to go into child protective services for she knows she doesn’t have a means to take care of them. She is 18, doesn’t have a job, no real prospects at the moment, and the only people in her network who could provide her some kind of opportunities are into sex and drugs. Then, when it comes to her teacher and dad, they are willing to do only but so much, and even what little they have offered made Goldie uncomfortable.

Leaving us seeing Goldie prepping to be on her own and us left unsure how her life turns out.

Is A Sequel Possible?

Which is what a sequel could hold. What happened to Goldie considering her mother might have went down for a felony, her dad has a new family that his wife is leery of her being part of, and the only other person she can rely on is a grown man, José, who likely has been having sex with her even when she was a minor? And while her former teacher, Janet, is nice, the likelihood of her taking in Goldie is slim. So what happened to her, her sisters, her mom, and do things get better or stay on the path we saw?