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? How many straws does it take to break a camel’s back? In Netflix’s latest film, Straw, starring golden-globe winning actress Taraji P. Henson, it only takes the one to send Janiyah Wiltkinson (Henson) into overdue madness.
How long can a mother endure? The Tyler Perry -directed movie follows Wiltkinson, a single mother struggling to raise her severely ill daughter. Wiltkinson works more than one job, puts up with an abusive supervisor and an apathetic landlady, denies herself food to provide for her daughter, and does her best to keep her daughter safe…until child protective services drag her away from school. Wiltkinson quickly rushes to rectify the situation and prove her competence as a parent, yet a series of unfortunate events lead her to her breaking point, becoming the number one person of interest in the state as she finds herself suddenly holding an entire bank hostage.
All throughout the film, Perry poses a pivotal question: who cares about a poor, single, black mother? In doing so, Perry shines a critical spotlight on the systematic injustices faced by women in Wiltkinson’s position — ones designed to keep her exactly where she is. It’s a slow burn, and it stings hard.
Henson delivers a performance that will have you shedding tear after tear. The Color Purple (2023) and Empire star is no stranger to owning the scene, and in Straw. Henson’s pull is undeniable — from the nuances in her expressions all the way to the subtlest movements. She dextrously embodies a woman with nothing left to lose, who will not let anyone stand in the way of a reunion with her daughter.
Our verdict: Straw is one of those films that have you thinking you’ve cracked the code, only to pull the rug from under your feet in the third act. It’s a heavy watch, yet one that is necessary and thought-provoking. If you’re looking to watch something that will have you on the edge of your seat — and not on your phone doomscrolling — this is it.
WHERE TO WATCH - Straw is available to stream on Netflix, and you can find the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:03).
