'The Problem of the Hero' Review: A Riveting Clash of Art and Identity
- Romey Norton
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
By Romey Norton - March 30, 2025
Cinema often romanticises the creative process, but The Problem of the Hero peels back the layers to reveal the tension, politics, and personal stakes that shape storytelling. Directed by Shaun Dozier, this historical drama revisits a pivotal moment in American theatre: the fraught collaboration between novelist Richard Wright and playwright Paul Green as they adapted Wright’s Native Son for Broadway in 1941. What begins as a creative partnership soon becomes an ideological battleground, forcing both men to confront uncomfortable truths about race, authorship, and artistic integrity.
The film is built around a deceptively simple premise - a disagreement over a single page of script. Wright (played with fiery conviction by J. Mardrice Henderson) wants to preserve the raw, unfiltered truth of his novel, which exposes systemic racism and the realities of Black life in America. Green (portrayed by David Zum Brunnen), a white Southern playwright with progressive leanings, sees himself as an ally but struggles with his limitations in shaping a narrative that isn’t his to tell. Their clashing visions threaten the entire production.
The film thrives on intense, dialogue-driven exchanges reminiscent of classic stage dramas where every line carries emotional and ideological weight. The confined setting, a dimly lit backstage space, heightens the pressure, trapping the characters in a metaphorical and literal theatre of conflict.
Henderson brings depth to Wright, portraying him not just as an uncompromising artist but as a man burdened by the responsibility of truth-telling in a world that doesn’t want to hear it. Zum Brunnen gives Green a layered complexity, embodying a figure who is both well-meaning and frustratingly blind to his privilege. Their chemistry is electric, making their intellectual battles feel urgent rather than academic.
While the film is undeniably dialogue-heavy, it never feels static – every exchange crackles with tension, and as a viewer, you’re hooked to the screen. The orchestral musical score helps drive the pace of the film and creates a calming atmosphere, often conflicting with the hard-hitting dialogue.
As the story continues, you will become engrossed in who is going to win/be right and how the film is going to end. Without spoiling the ending, it’s poignant and perfectly ends this story.
If there’s any critique to be made, it’s that some audiences may wish for more background on the broader cultural impact of Wright’s novel and the significance of its stage adaptation. However, for those intrigued by the intersection of art, activism, and race, the film offers a rich and rewarding experience.
The Problem of the Hero is more than a historical drama, it’s a meditation on who gets to tell stories, how art shapes social consciousness, and the uneasy alliances that form in the fight for progress. It’s a look into the creative process, how everyone behind the curtain works, and the effort it takes to put on a play. Ironically, this film would make a great play. Thought-provoking and impeccably acted, it’s a must-watch!
The Problem of the Hero is out now on digital platforms
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