Four women are forced to turn to a life of crime in Set it Off, F. Gary Gray’s incendiary, landmark heist thriller.
Living economically marginalised lives in Los Angeles, close friends Stony, Cleo, Frankie, and Tisean (Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise) decide to launch an ambitious series of bank heists in a bid to transform their lives. But as they take greater and greater risks, mutual distrust begins to grow between them, building to an explosive conclusion.
A landmark film for foregrounding women in a male-dominated genre, Set it Off offers potent intersectional commentary on race, class and patriarchy in-between brilliant, thrilling set pieces.
Boasting great chemistry between its leads, it joins a list of stellar ‘90s films by Black American directors using genre to explore American racism and violence, a list that includes Deep Cover and Clockers (both included in this season), as well as Dead Presidents, Juice, One False Move, Belly, and many more.