The Color of Friendship 2000

Overview

The Color of Friendship is a 2000 drama film that explores the intersection of personal relationships and political landscapes. The story follows Mahree Bok, a young woman living on a farm in South Africa whose father is a policeman. Her father openly expresses his satisfaction when South African authorities capture the activist Steve Biko. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Piper Dellums lives in a comfortable home as the daughter of a United States congressman. The narrative centers on a student exchange program that brings these two young women together. When Mahree is selected to spend a semester living with the Dellums family, she is unprepared to discover that her hosts are Black. Conversely, the Dellums family expects their guest to be a Black South African and is surprised by Mahree’s arrival. The film, which has a runtime of one hour and twenty-three minutes, examines the initial misunderstandings and cultural clashes that arise between the two households as they navigate their differing backgrounds and expectations during the exchange.