Denzel Washington, one of the most acclaimed and celebrated actors of our time, had an interesting path to his first directorial feature,Antwone Fisher. The 2003 dramahas a fascinating “from script to screen” journey, as it was based on the autobiographyFinding Fish: A Memoir, the moving story of a man struggling to find his place in the world. But how did this story reach studio producerTodd Black, and eventually, Denzel Washington?
Antwone Fisher
This drama centers on a young sailor in the Navy who struggles with his volatile temperament. With the help of a compassionate psychiatrist, he confronts his painful past and embarks on a journey to find the family he never knew, exploring themes of healing, self-discovery, and the power of emotional resilience.
The real-life Antwone Fisher had humble beginnings, as he espouses in his book. He was born in a correctional facility merely a few months after his father was killed by one of his ex-girlfriends.Antwone had been given to a foster homewhere he experienced several instances of abuse, while ironically going through racial discrimination from a Black family. Determined to live on the streets rather than face one more moment of hell from his foster family, Fisher became homeless for a while. He eventually wanted to find a sense of meaning in his life and enlisted in the United States Navy. With his past continually troubling him,he would become erratically violent when triggered.
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His unruly behavior leads him to the office of Psychiatrist Lt. Commander Williams,the real-life equivalent of Dr. Jerome Davenport, played by Denzel Washington in the film.As they discuss his traumatic past, Williams and Fisher develop a father-son bond. This becomes essential to Antwone’s personal growth, as he now has a father-figure that he can turn to regarding his problems. Fisher was released from the Navy in 1989, kicking off his journey of self-discovery. While he did find out who his true parents were,Antwone still maintained a close dynamic with Williams. In his memoir, Fisher writes that since the US Navy didn’t authorize Williams to have this unconventional sort of therapy where the two would grow this close, they would meet “unofficially and sporadically – for walks, coffee, or in the bleachers at a local ball field.” Fisher spent three years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons after his release, and eventually ended upworking as a security guardat the Sony Pictures Studio.
Denzel Washington Was Moved by Antwone Fisher’s Story
Aside from being a first-time director, Washington also shared the screen with a first-time actor inDerek Luke. Luke, who was working at the Sony gift shop at that time, was recommended by Antwone Fisher himself to try out for the part. Perhaps Fisher saw his younger self in the newcomer, and wanted to give him an opportunity of a lifetime. One day, Luke arrived at the studiounannounced, unexpected, and uninvited…. except he was literally at the wrong place at the wrong time. The audition was going to take place on another day. When he eventually got the right date and time, he apparently made the right impression. After years of production delays,Antwone Fishercast him in the lead role, with Washington himself noting that it simply belonged to him. And the rest, as they say, is history.
‘Antwone Fisher’ Was Perfect for Denzel Washington’s Directorial Debut
Despite being Denzel Washington’s first time in the director’s chair, there is a certain sensitivity in the approach ofAntwone Fisher. As an actor, Washington’s mark has always been dependent on his emotional spirit, whether he was portraying a heroic protagonist, ora ruthless action star. This seeps through every crevice of the picture as it deals with the heavy nature of loss, abuse, and the never-ending journey of identity. Rather than just being performative in its attempts to draw feelings out of the viewers, it makes use of the soul inherent to its narrative. The famed criticRoger Eberteven mentionedhow he rarely cries at movies, but “tears welled up in my eyes both times I saw the film.”
The opening dream sequence succinctly presents the spirit of the film, both stylistically and emotionally. A young Antwone is welcomed into a barn, where a banquet is being prepared in his honor. As he enters, he sees a lot of people enthusiastically waiting for his next move. A plate of thick pancakes is dropped in front of him as he sits down,but the audience realizes that it’s just a dream. He wakes up, sweaty, agitated, and in a state of panic. As the film concludes, the viewers realize the significance of the pancakes, referring to the only good days that he had in his life. The images and narratives formed in his sleep reveal his true desire, and that is,to merely have more good days than bad ones. It is a perfect encapsulation of the messageAntwone Fisherwants to send, and it was beautifully accomplished by a first-time filmmaker, Denzel Washington.
Antwone Fisheris available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
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