In-Depth Review of Fences: Themes, Characters, and Critical Reception

Delving Deep into the Fences Universe: More Than Just a Backyard Barrier

Have you seen a film less about superheroes and more about life? You need to watch "Fences." This is not a typical Hollywood film. It is a drama filled with emotion. The dialogue is sharp enough to cut through a fence.

"Fences" comes from August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. This tale isn’t made up. It’s based on Wilson’s life in 1950s and 60s Pittsburgh. The Maxson family is at its center. Troy Maxson leads this family. He is not just a protagonist; he is a powerful man molded by a difficult past, trying to navigate family life and a confining world.

Setting the Stage: 1950s Pittsburgh and the Maxson Household

Imagine Pittsburgh in the quieter days of the 50s and 60s. This setting is vital. The Maxson’s home is not grand. It’s working-class. Inside, Troy, Rose, and their son Cory reside. Troy works as a sanitation worker with his friend, Jim Bono.

Troy’s backstory is tough. He fought for survival from age 14, when he faced an abusive father. His youth wasn't innocent; he resorted to robbery to survive. This past shapes Troy’s worldview and drives his conflicts.

Before you ask, "Is the Maxson family real?", let’s clarify. "Fences" isn't a documentary. It’s fiction, rooted in reality. August Wilson drew from his life to make this story resonate. For fans, "Fences" is part of his "Pittsburgh Cycle," showing the African American experience across decades.

Unpacking the Emotional Baggage: Themes that Hit Home

"Fences" is not just any story; it's filled with rich themes relevant today. The 2016 film adaptation directed by Denzel Washington features Viola Davis. It does more than present a play; it opens the heart and shows its complicated truth.

Family Dynamics: A Rollercoaster of Roles and Commitments

At its heart, "Fences" examines family dynamics. It explores our roles within the family and what commitment truly means. Are we bound by blood, duty, or love? The Maxsons navigate these questions, each seeking their role and obligations.

Betrayal: The Ultimate Relationship Wrecker

Betrayal invades the family in "Fences." It eats away at trust and love. The film reveals how betrayal fractures bonds, leaving scars that may never heal. It’s not just romantic betrayal; it includes broken expectations and promises of family.

Legacy: Inherited Baggage and Breaking the Cycle

Legacy plays a crucial role in "Fences." It involves what we inherit from our parents—habits, beliefs, and emotional burdens. The film questions how much we are shaped by our upbringing. What do we pass on? How can we escape negative cycles to improve ourselves and our children?

Emotional Development: Beyond the Macho Facade

"Fences" goes deeper than family drama; it examines male emotional growth. It discards the macho stereotype, diving into how men manage emotions outside of sports and combat. Troy highlights this struggle, coping with vulnerability in a world equating masculinity with strength.

Race and Racism: An Unavoidable Backdrop

You cannot ignore race in a story about a Black family in mid-20th century America. "Fences" directly confronts this issue, weaving it into the narrative. Wilson aims to explore the evolving Black family experience amidst racial inequality. The fences represent societal barriers as much as physical ones.

Responsibility and Duty: The Weight of Expectations

Responsibility weighs heavily in "Fences." Each character defines their duty to their family, resulting in conflict. It raises questions about what responsibility means and who we owe our loyalty to. These questions lie beneath everyday life in the Maxson household.

Barriers: Walls Physical and Metaphorical

Barriers are central to "Fences." Race is one barrier, but personal histories, emotional walls, and societal limits also exist. The fence symbolizes not just physical boundaries but also the walls we create between ourselves and our dreams.

Love: A Complicated Four-Letter Word

Love is a driving force in "Fences." It exists even in conflict and misunderstanding. It can be tough love, flawed love, or love expressed through anger and duty. The film urges us to explore the languages of love and their misinterpretations.

Humility: A Necessary Pill to Swallow

Humility is a tough but vital lesson in "Fences," especially for fatherhood. The film highlights that true fatherhood requires putting your child’s needs above your ego in every aspect of life.

Forgiveness: Banishment Through Grace

Forgiveness is a crucial theme in "Fences." Rose embodies this struggle. She wrestles with forgiveness, ultimately finding a way not for Troy but for his daughter Raynell. Her journey suggests we can break free from inherited sins through forgiveness.

Cycle of Damaged Manhood: Breaking the Chain

The play explores the cyclical nature of damaged Black manhood. It examines how trauma passes through generations, creating flawed behaviors. "Fences" raises an essential question: can we break this cycle? Is healing possible over perpetuated pain?

Desire for Order: Compartmentalizing Chaos

The chaos of life drives the desire for order within "Fences." It explores how characters seek to create organization in their lives. Building a fence can symbolize an attempt to manage chaos, physically and metaphorically.

of imposing order on the perceived chaos of existence.

Mortality: Wrestling with the Inevitable

Mortality looms in Troy's life. His near-death experience with pneumonia years ago shapes him. This tale of wrestling with Death shows his struggle to control life and grapple with fear of the inevitable.

Symbolism: More Than Meets the Eye

"Fences" is rich in symbolism. The objects and actions hold deeper meanings. It's like the movie speaks in codes, inviting us to decode its layers.

The Fence: A Multifaceted Metaphor

Let’s start with the fence. It's not just a backyard project for Troy; it's a symbol with multiple interpretations. The fence reveals different meanings depending on perspective.

• Protection: The fence keeps the outside world out. It creates a safe haven for the Maxson family. It represents security and drawing a line around the yard.
• Family Bonds: Inside the yard, the fence symbolizes relationships that bond and break within the family. It can strengthen connections or show divisions.
• Barriers: The fence embodies barriers between characters. Most notably, it highlights the strained relationship between Troy and Cory.
• Inner Life: The fence symbolizes the need for privacy. It preserves an inner life away from prying eyes. It creates personal space, both physical and emotional.
• Career: The fence symbolizes Troy's career. It resembles the perimeter of a baseball stadium, a reminder of his thwarted dreams of professional baseball.
• Conflict with Death: The fence represents Troy's ongoing conflict with "Mr. Death." It’s another boundary he attempts to erect against mortality.

Dog Blue: Man’s Best (and Most Obedient) Friend

The "Dog Blue" song isn’t just a tune; it’s loaded with symbolism. It expresses a nostalgic masculinity defined by "unconditional devotion and obedience." Dog Blue becomes a symbol of an idealized, outdated form of masculinity.

Baseball: Strikes, Outs, and Life’s Game

Baseball is Troy's favorite sport. It’s his metaphorical language for life. He merges baseball metaphors with his pronouncements about death throughout the play. He talks about striking out and facing curveballs. It frames his experiences in a tough game.

The Devil: Personal Demons in Disguise

The Devil in Troy's world represents struggles and hardships. He embodies poverty, racism, missed opportunities, and personal demons Troy wrestles daily.

Meet the Maxsons and Their Entourage: Characters that Resonate

"Fences" focuses on people, not just themes. The characters aren’t merely names; they’re real individuals with flaws, strengths, dreams, and disappointments. You might recognize them from your own life.

Troy Maxson: The Complex Protagonist

• The Man Himself: Troy Maxson is the sun around which "Fences" revolves. He is the protagonist and a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. He is a former baseball player haunted by dreams. Denzel Washington embodies him with raw intensity.
• Good Dad, Bad Dad? Is Troy a good or bad father? The answer is complex; he is both. He provides for his family and is protective. Yet he is controlling, emotionally stunted, and capable of cruelty. He wrestles with his demons while guiding his family.
• The Fatal Flaw: Troy's tragic flaw is infidelity. His unfaithfulness to Rose is not just personal; it cracks the family's foundation, causing a betrayal that echoes through their lives.
• Death by Bat: In an ironic twist, Troy dies from a heart attack while swinging a baseball bat at a tree. It’s as if he battles "Mr. Death" until his last moment.

Rose Maxson: The Family's Steadfast Heart

• The Rock: Rose Maxson is the emotional bedrock of the family. While Troy is volatile, Rose strives to hold the family together through challenges.
• Faith, Patience, and Generosity: Rose is deeply religious and incredibly generous. She is often the moral compass, offering grace while Troy offers rigidity.

Cory Maxson: Hope for a Different Future

• The Son: Cory Maxson is Troy and Rose's teenage son. He embodies hope and ambition, seeking a future beyond his father's limitations.
• Strained Relationship: Cory's relationship with Troy is tense. He craves love but meets Troy's “hardened toughness.” This clash creates major conflict.

Lyons Maxson: The Jazzman Son

• The Musician: Lyons Maxson is Troy's son, a talented jazz musician who lives by his own rhythm.
• Fatherly Disapproval: Lyons faces Troy's disapproval of music as a profession. This divide creates friction between them.

Gabriel Maxson: The War-Injured Brother

• The Trumpet Player: Gabriel Maxson is Troy's brother, who suffered a brain injury from the war. He displays a childlike innocence.
• Heaven's Gatekeeper? Gabriel believes he can open heaven's gates with his trumpet. He embodies vulnerability and spiritual significance.

Raynell Maxson: The Illegitimate Daughter and Hope for Tomorrow

• The Innocent: Raynell Maxson, Troy's illegitimate daughter, enters the story late but her presence is meaningful.
• Rose's Embrace: After Alberta's death, Raynell is raised by Rose. This acceptance is a testament to Rose’s character and her capacity for forgiveness.

Alberta: The Mistress

• The Other Woman: Alberta is Troy's mistress, who largely remains offstage yet greatly impacts the story and Rose's marriage.

Jim Bono: The Loyal Friend

• The Voice of Reason: Jim Bono is Troy's best friend and fellow worker. He serves as a moral sounding board for Troy during their long friendship.

Key Relationships: The Tangled Web of Connections

"Fences" shows intricate relationships binding characters together, for better or worse. These connections serve as emotional battlegrounds for drama.

Troy and Rose: Love, Betrayal, and Taking for Granted

The marriage of Troy and Rose is at...

The heart of "Fences" shows a relationship that starts with love and respect. However, it becomes strained. Troy loves Rose, but he takes her for granted after eighteen years. Jim Bono notices this change and tries to remind Troy of his reverence for Rose. He urges Troy to rekindle their spark.

Troy and Cory: Father-Son Conflict

Troy and Cory’s relationship is a central conflict in the play. The fence symbolizes their barriers. Their differing expectations and parenting styles clash. Troy’s tough love approach conflicts with Cory’s need for emotional connection, causing a painful rift.

Troy and Lyons: Disapproval and Distance

Troy's relationship with Lyons is marked by disapproval. Troy disapproves of Lyons’s jazz musician career. This career choice creates a distance between them. Troy sees Lyons’s pursuits as impractical and not “manly” enough.

Troy and Gabriel: Guilt and Responsibility

The dynamic between Troy and Gabriel is complex and filled with guilt. Troy signed papers that led to Gabriel’s institutionalization. He used half of Gabriel’s war settlement money for himself. This weighs heavily on Troy, creating responsibility and possibly resentment.

Significant Events: Turning Points in the Narrative

"Fences" has significant events that propel the plot and alter characters' lives.

Troy's Affair and Raynell's Birth: The Earthquake

Troy’s affair with Alberta and Raynell’s birth shakes the foundation of his family. This seismic event catalyzes much of the drama. It exposes Troy’s flaws and challenges Rose’s loyalty.

Cory Leaves Home: The Breaking Point

The violent confrontation between Troy and Cory marks the breaking point. When Cory challenges Troy’s authority, it leads to Cory leaving home. This departure causes a major rupture in the family structure and highlights the tragic consequence of Troy’s parenting style.

Troy's Death: The End of an Era

Troy Maxson’s sudden death reshapes everything. His passing marks the end of an era for the Maxson family. It opens the possibility for healing and reconciliation.

Gabriel's Dance: Hope and Healing

Gabriel’s dance at the end is powerful and symbolic. It's not just random; it represents hope and healing. It connects to a deeper spiritual realm. Beauty and joy can emerge from pain and loss.

The Ending: Closure and New Beginnings

The ending of "Fences" is not a neat Hollywood conclusion. It is nuanced and realistic, ultimately hopeful.

Family Reunited (Post-Troy): Wholeness After Loss

After Troy’s death, the family begins to heal. His overbearing presence had cast a long shadow. His absence allows reconciliation and growth.

Gabriel Opens the Gates: A Symbolic Farewell

Gabriel's dance and trumpet cry are highly symbolic. It seems he fulfills his mission, opening the gates of heaven for Troy. This act suggests closure and a release of Troy’s spirit.

Healing, Hope, and Destiny: Creating a New Future

Gabriel’s dance symbolizes healing for the family. It signifies hope for the future. Black men and women can create their own destinies. They can find beauty despite suffering. It sends a powerful message of resilience.

Family Reunion: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future

The family reunites to honor Troy. It isn’t a joyous celebration but a moment of remembrance. Raynell, Troy's young daughter, becomes a beacon of hope. Her presence suggests new generations carry potential for positive change.

Interpretations and Messages: Lessons Woven into the Narrative

"Fences" contains messages and lessons within its narrative.

Humility in Fatherhood: Putting Children First

Humility in fatherhood is a major theme. Fathers should prioritize children’s needs over control. Troy’s struggles stem from his lack of humility and perspective.

Black Family Experience Across Generations: A Historical Tapestry

August Wilson explores the Black family experience. The film captures the challenges faced by Black families in mid-20th century America. It resonates with universal family dynamics.

Environmental Impact: Shaping Individuals

"Fences" argues that environment shapes individuals. Upbringing and societal context contribute to who we become. Parents inevitably pass on their limitations to their children.

Acceptance of Fortune and Misfortune: Life's Duality

The film conveys that life is a package deal. Misfortune accompanies good fortune. Resilience lies in accepting this duality and navigating both highs and lows.

Don't Let Others Ruin Your Life: Agency and Self-Determination

A powerful message is: "Never ruin your life due to another." Cory’s journey exemplifies this. Despite Troy’s attempts to control him, Cory forges his own path, joining the Marines. This highlights individual agency and self-determination.

Critical Acclaim: A Movie that Resonated

"Fences" made a significant impact, both critically and culturally.

Generally a "Good Movie": Performances and Adaptation Praised

The consensus? "Fences" is a well-received movie. Critics praised Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. The film remained faithful to Wilson’s play. Critics highlighted character depth and raw emotion.

Awards and Recognition: Critical Darling

Following its December 2016 premiere, "Fences" received critical acclaim. It was a roar of approval, obtaining numerous awards.

Top Ten Film of 2016: AFI's Stamp of Approval

The American Film Institute declared "Fences" one of the top ten films of 2016. This recognition cemented its cultural importance.

Oscar Nominations: Performance Powerhouses

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis gained widespread acclaim. Both earned Academy Award nominations. Viola Davis won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, highlighting her power as Rose Maxson.

"Good Fences" (1973): A Different Fence, a Different Story

Don't confuse "Fences" (2016) with "Good Fences" (1973). They deal with barriers but are distinct films. "Good Fences" tackles prejudice from a different angle.

Prejudice in 1970s Connecticut: Upward Mobility and Racism

"Good Fences" shifts to 1970s Greenwich, Connecticut. It focuses on a Black family facing prejudice in a progressive suburban setting. It highlights racism's insidious nature in affluent communities.

Knowing Your Place and Finding What's Right:

The Moral Compass

The story of "Good Fences" focuses on knowing one's place. It explores what is right. It navigates societal expectations, confronts prejudice, and defines integrity. Justice in a world often tries to dictate your position.

"Fences" (2016) Accuracy: Pittsburgh Authenticity

When making "Fences," authenticity mattered. The filmmakers sought realism. They grounded the story in its Pittsburgh setting.

Filmed in Pittsburgh's Hill District: Real Locations, Real Feel

"Fences" filmed on location in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was not a Hollywood soundstage pretending. It was Pitsburgh's reality. Filming in the Hill District lent the movie a strong sense of place and realism, connecting the fictional Maxson family to a tangible, rich environment. You can feel the Pittsburgh air in every scene.

"Fences" offers more than a movie; it gives an experience. It delves into family, race, and human nature. This film lingers long after the credits roll. It prompts reflection and discussion. Prepare to reconsider your own fences, literal and metaphorical. Watch it and be moved, challenged, captivated.

For more about "Fences," these links might help:

• Learn about the movie on its Wikipedia page.
• Check where "Fences" was filmed in this article.
• Understand themes of humility and fatherhood in this LinkedIn article.