What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedFences
Denzel Washington · Film · 2016
If you loved Fences, start with The Underground Railroad (Barry Jenkins, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Fences across media.
What hooked you in Fences was the way the weight of societal expectations crashes into the intimacy of family dynamics.
Books on the same thread
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry · Book · 1995
Shares 3 threads with Fences: Family Conflict, The American Dream, Family Drama.
Like Fences, this classic play explores the crushing impact of systemic racism on a family's pursuit of their dreams and their internal struggle to maintain dignity and hope.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1991
Shares a thread with Fences: The American Dream.
You will recognize the tragic pursuit of the American Dream in this story, which mirrors the disillusionment and personal failures experienced by the protagonist in Fences.
The Color Purple
Alice Walker · Book · 2011
Explores: female resilience, intergenerational trauma, sisterhood.
This narrative shares the profound domestic intensity found in Fences, focusing on the resilience required to survive trauma and the complexities of familial bonds under societal pressure.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
The relentless and often destructive quest for an idealized life in this novel echoes the central conflict of Fences, where personal desires collide with harsh reality.
Series on the same thread
The Underground Railroad
Barry Jenkins · Series · 2021
Explores: The horrors of slavery, The fight for freedom, Hope amidst despair.
This journey captures the same spirit of resilience against systemic oppression that defines Fences, grounding its historical scope in the deeply personal struggle for freedom and identity.
This Is Us
Dan Fogelman · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Fences: Family Drama.
If the intergenerational trauma and hidden secrets of Fences captivated you, this series offers a similarly emotional exploration of how past experiences shape the current family dynamic.
black-ish
Kenya Barris · Series · 2014
Explores: Cultural Identity, Assimilation, Generational Differences.
This show mirrors the exploration of cultural identity and generational friction found in Fences, presenting the complexities of the black experience through a domestic and relatable lens.
Atlanta
Donald Glover · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Fences: The American Dream.
Just as in Fences, the characters here navigate the difficult intersection of personal ambition and the systemic constraints of their environment, striving for a better future.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This podcast provides the necessary historical context for the systemic racism that constrains the characters in Fences, grounding the personal tragedy in a larger national narrative.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
Fans of the character-driven domestic tension in Fences will appreciate this serialized look at the complications of daily life and the evolving nature of long-term relationships.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Fences set in a specific historical period?
Yes, Fences is set in 1950s Pittsburgh. The film portrays the challenges faced by an African-American father during this era as he navigates the constraints of poverty and systemic racism while attempting to provide for his family.
What is the central conflict in Fences?
The central conflict in Fences involves a frustrated father struggling against the limitations of poverty and racism. He must also contend with his own inner demons while attempting to raise his family within the challenging social landscape of 1950s Pittsburgh.
Who directed the 2016 film Fences?
The 2016 film Fences was directed by Denzel Washington. The movie focuses on the life of an African-American father in 1950s Pittsburgh who deals with personal struggles and external societal pressures while raising his family.
Does Fences depict the life of an African-American family in the 1950s?
Yes, Fences depicts the story of an African-American father living in 1950s Pittsburgh. The narrative centers on his efforts to raise a family despite the significant obstacles posed by poverty, racism, and his own internal conflicts.