ROB PEACE

US, 2024, 120 minutes, Colour.

Jay Will, Mary J.Blige, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Camila Cabello, Curt Morlaye, Caleb Eberhardt, Michael Kelly, Mare Winningham, Juan Castano, Benjamin Papac.

Directed by Chiwitel Ejiofor.

An American story about a young man, African-American from the neighbourhoods in New Jersey, strong intelligence, wanting to do good for the world – but, ultimately, doing wrong things for many right reasons.

Rob Peace, 1980-2011, showed talent when he was a little boy, living with his mother and grandparents, separated from his father but relishing visits and outings with him. His father, very affirming of his son, full of encouragement. Then the beginnings of tragedy with his father accused of killing two young women, a long delayed trial giving cause for a later appeal and moments of freedom, his son growing up, loyal to his father but often concerned about his guilt or not.

Interestingly, this film shows some positive aspects of Catholic education in the US during the 1990s, especially at a college run by the Benedictines, St Benedict’s (and a very interesting Wikipedia entry about the history of the school), Rob’s mother wanting him to get the best education. He thrives in the atmosphere, excels in studies and being accepted into Yale.

Rob has the greatest ambitions, love of science, microbiology, hopes to work on cures for cancer. He has a sympathetic roommate, Jeff Hobbs (and Jeff Hobbs actually writing the well-received book about Rob Peace), a supportive girlfriend, the pride of his mother and of his imprisoned father.

But the wrong things for some right reasons – a desire to raise money to help an appeal for his father leads him to take equipment from the science laboratory and manufacture drugs in his father’s abandoned home, friends serving as dealers, making money to pay for lawyers. On the one hand, he runs the risk of being arrested. On the other, he is able to get a teaching job at St Benedict’s and thrives on working with the children in classes and lab work.

Later, wanting to improve the neighbourhood in which he grew up, he collaborates with real estate agents on an ambitious plan but is thwarted by the financial collapse of 2008-2009. And, again, the need for repayments.

Actor Jay Will offers a convincing performance as Rob, the qualities of character, the twists of motivation that led to his downfall.

The film was written and directed by British actor, Chiwitel Ejiofor (who also directed The Boy who Chased the Wind, well worth seeing for its African setting), who also plays the role of the father. Singer Mary J. Blige plays his mother. Michael Kelly is a sympathetic and encouraging priest at St Benedict’s.

An interesting story, good performances, and a cautionary moral tale.

1. The plain title, the focus on Rob, his character, his life, his achievements, failures, short life and death?
2. New Jersey, the 1980s and 90s, the neighbourhood, homes, drug dealing, violence? The contrast with St Benedict’s and its vision for its students? Yale, the world of academia, sharing apartments? The prison sequences, the courts? The drug processing and dealing? The transformation of the neighbourhoods, the financial crash? The musical score, the songs and style of the periods?
3. The book by Jeff Hobbs, his being Rob’s roommate, sharing the experiences, a tribute to Rob?
4. Rob as a little boy, called Shaun, living with his mother, single, hard-working, with his grandparents and their care, the visits from his father, going out with him, the bond with his father, his father’s affirmation? The homeliness of everybody listening to the match on the porch? Rob emerging as clever, good with maths and complexities, his father affirming him as brilliant?
5. The character of his father, separated from his wife, the visitations, making money, the car breaking down, the range of friends, the drug dealing? The gun? The story of the two women being shot? His arrest, the continued question throughout the film of whether he was guilty or not, the identifying of the gun, the question of the police planting the gun? The delays for the trial, found guilty, in prison?
6. Shaun, teenage, his mother wanted him to be called Rob, sending him to private school, St Benedict’s, the tradition of the school, the Benedict and teachers, the character of Father Leahy, the motto of the school, all brothers helping brothers, the various other qualities, Rob’s contribution? His enjoying his time at school, the encouragement of the teachers, his education, graduation, the application for Yale, his being accepted?
7. His visits to his father, the loophole, supporting his father, the hearing, the judge sympathetic, his father freed, going home, the happy times together? The appeal, coming early, the issue of finance, the expenses for lawyers, Rob and his dilemma? Advice? The judge condemning his father, back to jail?
8. Rob, going to jail to visit, sharing the apartment with Jeff? The meeting with Naya, the bond with her, love? His studies, achievement, science, maths, microbiology, healing for cancer…? The support of the professor, her recognising his talent, allowing him to the laboratories? The racial encounter with the student, the Professor siding with Rob? The further encouragement, her seeing that he had taken the equipment, the hearing, her recommendation for his graduation, but not being able to recommend him for further applications?
9. His father, the cancer, Rob and his decisions, gathering his friends, the drug connections in the neighbourhood, taking the equipment, going to the empty house, setting up the lab, the drugs, the sales? Yale security and pursuit? Getting enough money for a lawyer and for the medication for his father?
10. Rob’s mother, time passing, her pride, the issue of her husband, his guilt, indications of his past violence? The grandparents, ageing, illness and deaths?
11. The effect on Rob, the motivations for his choices, risking the law, the security at Yale, the money, throwing it out the window? His graduation?
12. His father’s death, the final visit to him, pleading for him to tell the truth, his father upset? The later meeting with the couple, their being afraid to speak, their information about the gun, the photo of the father with the gun, Rob burying it at the graveside?
13. Rob, going to St Benedict’s, the support of Father Leahy, the discussions, encouragement? His classes and his enjoying teaching? Possibility for research and teaching?
14. His relationship with Naya, her reaction to his decisions, speaking the truth to him, her going to Rio, the phone calls, the prospect of their meeting in California?
15. Rob and his eagerness to change the world for the better, his motivation, the issue of his father’s house, with the real estate agents, with his friends, the money, the loans, the drugs and sales? The financial collapse of 2008-2009?
16. Continuing with the drugs, getting enough money for his friends, the gift for his mother? The courier, being followed, giving the information, the gunmen, shooting Rob?
17. Portrait of a man with the enormous potential, life situations, his decisions, life cut short?