Zebrahead (1992)
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71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(888 ratings)
An interracial romance sparks social upheaval in this indie drama from first-time writer/director Anthony Drazan. Jewish high school student Zack Glass (Michael Rapaport) lives with his widowed, womanizing father (Ray Sharkey) in one of the nicer areas of Detroit. His pop and grandfather own a pair… More An interracial romance sparks social upheaval in this indie drama from first-time writer/director Anthony Drazan. Jewish high school student Zack Glass (Michael Rapaport) lives with his widowed, womanizing father (Ray Sharkey) in one of the nicer areas of Detroit. His pop and grandfather own a pair of vintage record stores full of everything from swing and jazz to soul and disco; Zack carries on the vinyl-centric family tradition by selling hip-hop mix tapes out of his locker and mixing fiddles and Puccini into his DJ sets at local parties. One day at school, beautiful New Jersey transfer student Nikki (N'Bushe Wright) witnesses Zack's girlfriend unceremoniously dumping him; when it turns out that Zack's best friend, Dee Wimms (DeShonn Castle), is Nikki's cousin, the stage is set for romance -- the first interracial pairing for each teen. Dee is happy to play matchmaker, but members of the Wimms clan aren't as pleased with the romance. Nikki's mother, Marlene (Candy Ann Brown), asks Zack point-blank if he's curious about black women -- or just slumming it. Such mild disapproval is nothing compared to the rage felt by Nut (Ron Johnson), a young troublemaker who wants to romance Nikki himself. When Nikki overhears Zack making a racially insensitive comment about her to his pals at a party, she questions the viability of their relationship; the next day, she finds herself making time with Nut, who displays an unexpected tender streak. When Zack shows up at the local skating rink to talk to Nikki and sees Nut pestering her, things spiral out of control. Soon, the lines are drawn in a community-wide debate about interracial dating and urban violence. Zebrahead earned a Filmmaker's Trophy for Drazan at Sundance in 1992 and launched the successful careers of Rapaport and Wright. Indie fans will notice Kevin Corrigan in an elliptical subplot involving the industrial disintegration of the Motor City. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Anthony Drazan
- Written By
- Anthony Drazan
- Genres
- Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Oct 23, 1992 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 18, 2002
Critic Reviews
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
In the absence of the usual teen-movie pyrotechnics, Zebrahead has a quiet, stagy style, more like a 1950's teleplay with a social conscience than a stormy present-day tale of racial strife.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Zebrahead is a thoughtful film that speaks honestly and hopefully to urban teens. Drazan has earned his stripes.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Zebrahead is not so much a movie as notes toward a movie - a good one, judging by what's on the screen.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
In Anthony Drazan's enjoyably offbeat Zebrahead, racial definition is the least important thing about anybody.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The movie takes us to the two places where bigotry are both nurtured and perpetuated, the home (here single parent) and the racially diverse school, where the youngsters prove more mature and open-minded than their parents.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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N'Bushe Wright
as Nikki
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Paul Butler
as Otis Wimms
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DeShonn Castle
as Dee Wimms
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Candy Ann Brown
as Marlene
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Luke Reilly
as Mr. Modell
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Dan Ziskie
as Mr. Cimino
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Kevin Corrigan
as Dominic
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Martin Priest
as Saul
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Ron Johnson
as Nut
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Ray Sharkey
as Richard Glass
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Helen Shaver
as Diane
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Lois Bendler
as Dominic's Mother
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Shirley Benyas
as Helen
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Andrew Berlin
as Jake
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Taunesha Butler
as Brenda
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Glenn Dossin
as Waiter
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Marsha Florence
as Mrs. Wilson
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Londie Jermain Fuller
as Jasmine
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Lz Granderson
as Larry
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Idina Harris
as Nadine
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Yvette Hawkins
as Margaret
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Harold Hogan
as Marlene's Boyfriend
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Diane Jones
as Mrs. Jones
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Lara Kramer
as Robin
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William Ozier
as Reverend
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Liana Pai
as Connie
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Tycie Person
as Sophie
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Michael Rapaport
as Zack Glass
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Jon Seda
as Vinnie
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Abdul Hassan Sharif
as Al
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Jade Marisa Thomas
as Kathy
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Bobby Joe Travis
as Angel
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Shula Van Buren
as Michelle
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Alberta Watson
as Phyliss
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Jason Willinger
as Bobby
