The 40-Year-Old Version

The 40-Year-Old Version is a refreshingly original and deeply personal film released in 2020, that cleverly explores themes of age, ambition, authenticity, and identity within the context of race, gender, and the arts. Directed by and starring Radha Blank, the film is a semi-autobiographical account of Blank, a down-on-her-luck playwright in New York City who embarks on an unexpected journey of reinvention as a rapper.

The film opens with Radha, a former “30 Under 30” playwright, who, as she approaches the age of 40, finds herself teaching drama to a group of Harlem high school students. Despite being once full of promise, the realities of life have hindered her creative passions. Simultaneously, she grapples with the one-year anniversary of her beloved mother's death. During this difficult period, she is battling out her frustrations with the city's patriarchal and racial barriers that seem to limit her ambitions in the theater world.

Her breakthrough plummets into a rut as her latest play, a story about gentrification, finds little traction in a market targeted towards white audiences. Under the pressure of her manager Archie (Peter Kim), she sees herself compromising her artistic ethos for the whitewashing demands of her white producer, reckoning with the realities of being a woman of color in a predominantly white industry. Blank’s authentic and nuanced depiction of this struggle challenges the stereotypical one-dimensional narratives of black urban life typically found in mainstream media.

Driven by the mounting frustration and the ticking clock of her life, Radha begins to channelize her energy into a new form of storytelling – becoming a rapper. And just as you thought this might be turning into a rags-to-riches hip-hop story, Blank swerves expectation again. She doesn’t become an overnight sensation; instead, the art helps her channel her experiences and frustrations into an artistic expression that is more liberating and less restrained by the commercial dilemma. Guided by a laid-back producer named D (Oswin Benjamin), she transforms herself into RadhaMUSprime, a fierce, 40-year-old breakout rapper.

Without undermining the central plot, The 40-Year-Old Version delves into several critical conversations through its characters and narrative progression - voices that are rarely offered center stage. It captures the tension between commercial success and artistic integrity, the representation and misrepresentation of the black community, the gentrification of Harlem, and ageism, especially for women in entertainment.

Shot in splendid black and white, the cinematography of the film is notable, capturing the various moods of New York City as if it were a parallel character in the film. The monochromatic scheme gives the film an enduring quality, an echo of timeless classics. The sequencing of scenes and dialogues are sharp, interspersed with humor and candid shots showcasing the raw, vibrant Harlem culture.

Radha Blank's transformative performance is at the heart of the film. She completely owns the characterization of Radha, sinking her teeth into every scene, whether she’s commanding a classroom of rowdy students, venting her frustrations, or immersed in the cathartic process of rap. Blank’s storytelling prowess as the writer-director is evident in the way she masterfully displays vulnerabilities, eccentricities, and the resilience of an artist navigating through adversities, without falling into the trope of victimhood. Her transition from playwright to rapper highlights the struggle of an artist torn between creativity and survival.

Peter Kim and Oswin Benjamin significantly contribute to the movie's successful narrative. Kim represents the industry's varnished side as Archie, Radha's long-time friend and well-intentioned agent navigating his way through professional pressures and personal loyalties. Oswin Benjamin, as D, embodies the soulful voice of Harlem, his character serves as a beacon leading Radha through her turbulent journey.

The 40-Year-Old Version is a daring comedy-drama about life, ambition, and art, poetically intertwining themes into a relatable narrative. It provides a perspective of a mature woman who challenges societal norms while dealing with personal and professional challenges. Radha Blank has created something paradoxical: a film about a woman trying to remain true to her voice amidst industry noise, within a industry notorious for the same. The film is an encouraging statement of defiance and creativity that marks the arrival of a distinctive new cinematic voice.