Quest: Movie Review

Quest – NR
Release Date: 2017

Each year, over the course of True/False, a common theme tends to emerge. I know a lot of that has to do with the films you choose, but it can also be influenced by the standouts. This year, for me, the standout topic was living in America while black. Three films I saw worked together to tell this story from different perspectives. If Whose Streets was the inspiring backstory of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and I am not Your Negro was the passionately, poignant historical perspective, Quest lended its voice as the understated common family drama.

Quest follows one Philidelphian family over ten years of #livingwhileblack. (who knew there were so many hashtags?) They live in a leaky-roofed townhouse in a less than desirable neighborhood in North Philly. Christopher “Quest” Rainey runs a small neighborhood recording studio where he fosters local aspiring hip-hop and rap artists. Additional incomes for the family include his killer paper-route skills, and Ma Rainey’s full-time job as some sort of nurse in a home for the mentally unstable. Their son is busy fighting cancer at the same time as trying to be a responsible single-parent. Their daughter is just trying to live her live happily in her parents image.

Quite a lot happens over the course of 10 years with the Rainey family. Not everything they face is easy, but they take each challenge with patience and stride. In fact, it becomes clear, what doesn’t kill the Rainey family makes them stronger, and tighter. The biggest challenge they face, which happens about halfway through the story, comes at a high cost, but somehow by the end of the film, the family seems stronger for it.

Quest will have you beaming with pride and crying tears of joy. I highly recommend it.