After taking on the American dream in his last release, emerging rapper Motown Priest presents his new short film, Hawthorne, which is a gripping, thrilling look at both opportunism and vulnerability and how the two are connected. It’s also the directorial debut of the Queens-based artist, whose incredible new album of the same name serves as the film’s soundtrack.
In the context of the film, the themes play out in the style of a Greek tragedy told in reverse, and it was all actually inspired by one of the greatest TV episodes of all time: The Sopranos’ “Join The Club” (Season 6). Motown Priest was particularly taken by the episode’s “self-reflection and metaphysical warning,” which he brings to life in myriad ways in Hawthorne.
Essentially, nearly everything you see on screen has some second meaning, including the little girl, the shifting colour palettes, and the various animals. Like the album, the film also follows a cyclical format to drive home the message that the protagonist (representing so many of us) may have dreams and hopes, but he never acknowledges that he needs to work on himself to see any actual change. Without that acknowledgement, he’s only destined to make the same mistakes and end up where he started—or worse.
Stream Hawthorne on all DSPs here. And for the vinyl heads out there, the album is available now for purchase via Get On Down in emerald green.
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