But not totally impossible.
Take Blackkklaansman for example. Based on a true story apparently. Might be a comedy I think. Might be a violent drama. One way to find out.....
Well, turns out, it's kind of all those things.
But it's so much more.
As we're sure the rest of you already know, the film is based on the memoir of the same title by Ron Stallworth (played wonderfully by John David Washington), a young black rookie Colorado cop who wants to work undercover.
He gets his chance quicker than would seem feasible, which leads him to decide to infiltrate the KKK.
No mean feat for a black dude.
Not being a complete idiot he enlists the help of his new colleagues Flip (Adam Driver further enhancing his reputation) and Jimmy (Michael Buscemi).
Which is when the fun begins.
Now, sure, a black guy enlisting a Jewish guy to infiltrate a bunch of nationalist nutjobs sounds like a hoot, but there is so much drama and tension (some of it bitingly funny) that you need the laughs.
And you really do need the laughs.
Because, at the heart of this film is one simple, strong message.
What Ron Stallworth was trying to unseat and bring down in the early '70s is not just still here but is the strongest and most invasive it has ever been.
It's easy to be a white guy in this world. Surround yourself with white friends and you won't even think anything is untoward.
Black folks feeling set upon? Oppressed? Under siege? Fearing for their lives on a daily basis? Well not in my leafy suburb...
...but they are. They were then, and they still are today.
And it's on us all to wake up, pay attention, listen, and do all we can to stamp it out.
It's no coincidence that phrases used by David Duke (go look him up, junior) are being used again now — and not in pubs, clubs or at fascist demos with tiki torches, but by the Racist In Chief in the White House.
It starts there, and it seeps down. Gets normalised. Those who think their precious lives are out of kilter because of others rather than their own choices or those in power are being emboldened and empowered.
They're dragging their knuckles from the fringes and into the mainstream.
And it has to be stopped.
Hopefully, films like BlacKkKlansman can help.
With its spot-on historical feel and vibe, with the clever use of threes all over the place to emphasise the number of Ks kicking about, with its depiction of people who think racist thoughts and language are right and normal — Klansman captures both when Stallworth and his fellow Americans went through, but also what black America is enduring today.
To be fair, this film doesn't take a sledgehammer approach to the subject matter. The message is there if you want to hear it, or you can just enjoy a damn fine film.
Right up until the final scenes.
Without wishing to give anything away (although we appreciate it's been all over the interwebs already), the final sequence took the wind right out of our sails and within minutes we were in tears.
Both of us.
Partly out of shock, partly out of anger, and partly at just how vile and hate-filled one small section of society has been allowed to become.
Humans are an amazing species at times, while at others we are far less than the animals we think we are so superior too.
Cats fight, but not because one cat hates how another cat looks. Same with sharks, dogs, bears.... See where we're going with this?
It would be great to live in a world where racism was a thing of the past. But until we reach that day, we need films like this to labour the point and make sure people are still listening and paying attention.
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