BROWN SUGAR
Year: 2002
USA & UK: Twentieth Century Fox
Cast: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Queen Latifah, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Ralph E Tresvant, Malik Abdul-Basit, Common, Doug E Fresh, Leonard 'Hub' Hubbard, Method Man, Wendell Pierce, Slick Rick, Ahmir-Khalib Thompson, Tariq Trotter, Erik Weiner
Director: Rick Famuyiwa
Country: USA
USA: 108 mins
UK: 109 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language
UK Certificate: 12A contains one use of strong language and mild sexual references
USA Release Date: 11 October 2002
UK Release Date: 18 July 2003
Synopsis
Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) can attribute their friendship and the launch of their careers to a single childhood moment - the day they discovered hip-hop on a New York street corner. Now some 15 years later, she is a revered music critic and he is a successful, though unfulfilled music executive. As they lay down the tracks toward their futures, hip-hop isn't the only thing that keeps them coming back to that moment on the corner...
It's 1988 and hip-hop is ruling the streets and neighbourhoods of New York City. The never-before-heard rhymes of Run DMC and Eric B are music to a young girl's ears and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan, LOVE AND BASKETBALL) is in love - with hip-hop music. Her best friend Dre (Taye Diggs, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK) is by her side and is equally besotted with the music. Nothing could get better.
15 years on, Dre and Sidney have grown up but their love for hip-hop is as strong as ever. Sidney is a highly respected music critic moving back to New York from LA to edit a music magazine. Dre is a successful, although increasingly unfulfilled music executive. Reunited by their friendship and continuing affection for the music, they also share a love for each other that runs deeper than either are willing to admit. However, whilst denying their true feelings, both marriage and adultery beckon and the path to true love is filled with obstacles.
When Dre quits his job to start out on his own in the music industry, he takes a chance on a young and talented MC leading the business onto rocky ground. Sidney offers her support and together they forge ahead with Dre's new business while their fiancees look on with growing jealousy - left to wonder how dangerous this friendship will be to their relationships.
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa (THE WOOD), BROWN SUGAR combines romance, hip-hop culture and comedy with a brilliant supporting cast including Queen Latifah (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, CHICAGO) and Mos Def (MONSTERS BALL).