She's Gotta Have It

As the credits unfurl, a poignant prologue sets the tone for the story that unfolds: "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board," Zora Neale Hurston writes in Their Eyes Were Watching God. The promise of fulfillment is tantalizing, yet for some, it remains perpetually out of reach, lost on the horizon of unfulfilled dreams. Conversely, women have a unique capacity to recall and relive cherished memories, their minds a tapestry woven from threads of joy and sorrow.

In Brooklyn's vibrant streets, Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) navigates a complex web of relationships with multiple lovers, convinced that this polyamorous lifestyle is the norm. Her apartment becomes a veritable playground for her paramours, with candles flickering like tiny beacons as she indulges in passionate encounters with Jamie Overstreet (Tommy Redmond Hicks), one of her many loves. The departure of her former roommate, Clorinda Bradford (Joie Lee), serves as a poignant reminder that Nola's choices often leave others feeling uneasy or even betrayed.

Jamie's endearing nature is what initially drew Nola to him, but their relationship is not without its challenges. She also finds herself entwined with Mars Blackmon (Spike Lee), a charismatic bicycle messenger whose distinctive head design - an arrow sculpted into the back of his cranium - sets him apart from the pack. When Nola invites Mars to her apartment for the first time, he proposes a platonic roommate arrangement, which she politely declines.

As Nola's life becomes increasingly complicated, Jamie becomes increasingly possessive and jealous, particularly when it comes to her burgeoning connection with Opal Gilstrap (Raye Dowell), a lesbian who seems to bring out a sense of vulnerability in Nola. Despite Jamie's reservations, Nola is adamant that her relationship with Opal is strictly platonic, even as the two women share tender moments and intimate conversations.

Meanwhile, Greer Childs (John Terrell) enters the picture, touting himself as the perfect match for Nola, claiming to have molded her into a sophisticated woman. As their dinner date unfolds, he becomes increasingly condescending, dismissing Jamie and Mars as foolish suitors. Later, when Greer is chosen to appear on the cover of Gentleman's Quarterly, he takes his self-proclaimed expertise to new heights, proposing marriage to Nola in a move that leaves her both amused and unimpressed.

In the midst of this whirlwind of relationships, Nola must navigate her own desires, insecurities, and sense of identity. As she oscillates between her various lovers, it becomes clear that each man represents a different facet of herself - a complex tapestry woven from threads of love, lust, and self-discovery.

Nola's existence was forever marked by the whimsical nature of her father, Sonny Darling (Bill Lee), who recognized in his daughter a kaleidoscope of interests, yet an inability to settle on any one passion for an extended period. This realization only fueled Nola's deep-seated desire to defy her solitary childhood experience and raise a brood of five sons.

As Jamie orchestrated a birthday surprise at a nearby park, the atmosphere was set aglow by the radiant glow of candles, the soft strumming of a custom-composed song, and the tender gestures of two modern dancers entwined in a lovers' picnic tableau. Later, as the flames danced across their skin, Nola and Jamie slipped into the warmth of each other's embrace.

However, when Mars telephoned to offer his felicitations on her special day, Nola politely declined his invitation, leaving Jamie to wonder aloud why she was drawn to the enigmatic Mars. Her silence only served to deepen the mystery surrounding their complex bond.

Mars, though capable of conjuring a radiant smile from Nola's lips, seemed to be motivated by a singular focus on her lovemaking rather than any profound connection with her essence. Jamie, meanwhile, found himself increasingly perplexed by Nola's affinity for both Mars and Greer, his own insecurities simmering just below the surface.

As tensions mounted, Jamie reached a breaking point when Nola refused to surrender to his exclusive claim on her affections. Greer, ever the provocateur, seized upon this opportunity to accuse Nola of succumbing to a sex addiction, suggesting she seek the counsel of a therapist. And so, Nola found herself in the presence of Dr. Jamison (Epatha Merkinson), who concluded that her healthy sex drive was not indicative of an addiction, but rather a natural expression of her desires.

As Thanksgiving approached, Nola decided to host a dinner party for all three lovers, inviting them to partake in a feast of food and drink. The evening quickly devolved into a cacophony of insults and barbs, with Mars accusing Greer of being a Celtics fan and proposing a 60-40 time-share arrangement between Jamie and himself. When Greer retaliated by suggesting that Mars's aversion to Scrabble stemmed from his lack of intellectual prowess, the atmosphere grew increasingly strained.

Nola's exasperation reached a boiling point as she announced her intention to retire for the night, leaving Jamie and Greer to their bitter bickering. But it was not until Nola woke from a nightmare in which other black women accused her of pilfering their men and set her bed ablaze that the true extent of her emotional turmoil became apparent.

As Jamie confessed his growing involvement with a new dancer named Ava, he issued an ultimatum to Nola: choose between him and one of the other two lovers. The weight of this decision hung precariously in the balance, as Nola struggled to reconcile her conflicting desires and navigate the treacherous landscape of her own heart.

As the Caribbean breeze whispers secrets to the palm trees, Greer extends an olive branch to Nola, inviting her to join him for a fortnight of sun-kissed escapades. But instead of reveling in the promise of a tropical getaway, Nola's instincts scream caution, and she declines the offer with unflinching candor - confessing that being alone with Greer for an extended period would be an exercise in emotional torture. Jamie, ever the persistent suitor, continues to press Nola for a commitment, only to find his efforts met with resistance as she tactfully dodges his advances.

As their relationship reaches a stalemate, Jamie makes a hasty exit, leaving Opal to offer what little comfort she can to Nola's crestfallen heart. The usually resilient Nola finds herself beset by the pangs of loneliness and uncertainty. In the dead of night, she summons Jamie with an urgent plea, feigning a crisis that demands his immediate attention. When he arrives at her doorstep, Nola's intentions are far from pure; instead, she craves physical intimacy, much to Jamie's ire.

The tension between them is palpable as they surrender to their baser instincts, but Jamie's frustration boils over when he realizes Nola has been playing him all along. As the night wears on, their lovemaking devolves into a brutal, passionless exercise, with Jamie's anger and disappointment manifesting in a violent display of possession.

Meanwhile, Greer's introspective gaze lingers on Nola's enigmatic nature, his mind reeling from her propensity to compartmentalize each lover, treating them as mere fragments of the same whole. When their relationship ultimately falters, he launches a scathing attack, only to find solace in the arms of Mars, who absorbs the blow with aplomb and even manages to elicit a faint smile from Nola.

As the dust settles, Nola finds herself drawn back to Jamie, her willingness to commit tempered by a newfound reluctance. She proposes a temporary separation from their physical intimacy, a decision Jamie initially agrees to, but one that ultimately proves a hollow promise. As the cracks in their relationship begin to show, Nola awakens to the harsh reality that Jamie seeks not a partner, but a domesticated plaything.

In the film's poignant denouement, Nola finally accepts her own nature - a creature forever torn between multiple loves and desires. Surrounded by candles that flicker like the flames of her own passion, she succumbs to exhaustion, her acceptance of her fate a bittersweet surrender to the unpredictable tides of her own heart.