George Floyd reference explained piece by piece

The following contains spoilers for Piece by Piece, currently playing in theatersPiece by pieces includes a clear reference to the death of George Floyd and the social fallout of the event. for the most part, Piece by piece is a sweet-natured and rhythmic exploration of Pharrell’s career as a musician and music producer. Coupled with the decision to animate the story entirely in LEGO blocks, it’s a largely sweet and inspirational story. This is changing Piece by pieces cast in new animated forms, allowing for a more versatile film that can easily embrace flights of fancy or grand visuals to represent deeply personal moments. Even at its most serious, it remains fun.

That largely light-hearted approach becomes more serious close to Piece by pieceIt’s the end. During the third act of the movie, Pharrell reflects on the state of the United States, with the film shifting away from the musician and more towards the world at large as protests erupt in the aftermath of fatal incidents of police brutality. This includes the killing of George Floyd, who is directly referenced but not overly named. Here is how the protests that followed Floyd’s death impact on the history of Piece by pieceAnd how the resulting sequence expands on the central themes of the film.

Pharrell Williams shares his thoughts on the George Floyd murder piece by piece

Piece by piece Reflects Pharrell’s views on the world at large

Late in Piece by pieceThe animated documentary reveals Pharrell’s response to the protests following incidents of police brutality such as the one that killed George Floyd. Most of the plot of Piece by piece Occurs before the events of 2020. However, Floyd’s death is shown to have a clear impact on Pharrell. Although his ethnicity as a black man came up, it was usually about how Pharrell subverted typical expectations by being a skateboarder with an eye for fashion. however, The death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against police brutality color Pharell’s perspective on the world.

This section of the movie forces Pharrell (as well as the audience) to acknowledge the harsh realities of modern society. It is a powerful scene, which comes during a period of general reflection that the artist is experiencing in his career. The sequence highlights the responsibility that Pharrell ends up as a high-profile artist of color, with his collaboration alongside Kendrick Lamar on the song “Alright” scoring the sequence. Pharrell and Lamar discuss the song’s meaning and power as an anthem of protest, which is increasingly being embraced by activists like those connected to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Piece by Piece shows the George Floyd protests in LEGO form

The George Floyd protests were shot in black and white but still in LEGO

The death of George Floyd sent ripples through the United States and the world at large in 2020. Floyd was an African American man who was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer in Minneapolis. Chauvin killed Floyd while holding him in custody. Just the latest example of police brutality in the country, Floyd’s death (which was recorded and shared with the public almost immediately after it happened) spurred massive protests across the country, some of which were depicted in Piece by piece. As with the rest of the movie, this sequence is animated like other LEGO movies.

The shots of the massive protests and the subsequent police response are much stronger than the more vivid framing of the rest of the movie. The scenes are done in black and white, highlighting the seriousness of the subject. The music is lower and more dramatic, highlighting how different the events are compared to the brighter moments of happiness that Piece by piece is largely focused on celebrating. The protest is modeled after protests after George Floyd’s death, as evidenced by the presence of “I can’t breathe” signs. These were Floyd’s last words and became a rallying cry for protesters.

Piece by piece plays Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell’s song Alright during the George Floyd scene

Piece by piece Recreates many elements of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” music video

Released in 2015 as part of his album To pimp a butterfly“Alright” was a collaboration between Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell. The song was popular upon release, with the accompanying black and white video of Lamar walking around Los Angeles hailed as one of the best music videos of the year. The music video is already rooted in the recognition of police brutality and problematic power structures around the world, as it was inspired by Lamar’s visit to South Africa and ended with Lamar being shot by an officer. The song took on more meaning thanks to the Black Lives Matter protests.

Many of the song’s lyrics have been adopted as unofficial chants by the organization. “Alright” was played during Piece by pieces protest sequence, further associating the track with the protest movement. Aspects of the music video for “Alright” are directly recreated in the filmSuch as the shots of Lamar sitting atop lamp posts along with the black and white monochrome coloring. The fact that Pharrell was involved in the production of the song gives it a clear reason to be included in the film. It also helps emphasize the emotional heft of the sequence and Pharrell’s response to the events.

How George Floyd’s scene piece by piece connects to Farrell’s story

Piece by piece Becomes more introspective after the protest sequence

The protest scene in Piece by piece Feels like a harsh dose of reality brought into the otherwise largely colorful, optimistic and musical film. The dramatic blow lands harder because it comes as a deeply sobering moment. Even after experiencing the lowest moments of his career and in his confidence, Farrell was able to reverse his fortune, visualized by his marriage, the birth of his son Rocket and the success of “Get Lucky” and “Happy.” However, all the wealth and fame in the world cannot undo or stop the tragedies of life, as seen by the protests surrounding Floyd’s murder.

The scene is a reminder that the world is bigger than just a musician’s success, but their music can still be an important aspect of it. It also highlights Pharrell returning to his childhood home and reflecting on how he grew up from humble beginnings. This highlights the humanity at the heart of even massive celebrity stories like Piece by piece. This also plays into the film’s central theme of inspiring others, which Farrell emphasizes is an important inspiration for the film as a whole. In turn, the same inspiration can go further Piece by piece and help society progress.