A Raisin in the Sun (2008): Cast & Plot
A Raisin in the Sun is a 2008 drama directed by Kenny Leon, starring Sean Combs as Walter Lee Younger, Martin Roach and Audra McDonald. It runs 2 hours 11 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 11m (131 min)
- Director
- Kenny Leon
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Raisin in the Sun About?
The premise of A Raisin in the Sun without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The Younger family confronts a pivotal choice after the patriarch’s death leaves them $10,000 in life‑insurance money. They debate whether to purchase a new home in a better neighborhood or invest in a liquor store, each path fraught with risk. Set on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s, their struggle underscores how dreams can uplift or be shattered by hard decisions.
A Raisin in the Sun Themes & Keywords
· 25 tags- astronomical object in title
- five word title
- poverty
- racism
- african american
- discrimination
- segregation
- racial segregation
- racial discrimination
- racial prejudice
- racial tension
- working class family
+13 more Show fewer
- title based on poem
- race relations
- mother son relationship
- mother in law daughter in law relationship
- mother daughter relationship
- money
- husband wife relationship
- family relationships
- dignity
- brother sister relationship
- black american
- apartment
- based on play
A Raisin in the Sun Cast & Characters
Sean Combs leads the cast as Walter Lee Younger, with Martin Roach as Walter Lee Sr. and Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger. Directed by Kenny Leon; 25 actors are credited in all.
- Director Kenny Leon
- Sean Combs as Walter Lee Younger
-
Martin Roach as Walter Lee Sr. -
Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger -
Sanaa Lathan as Beneatha Younger
Also Starring in A Raisin in the Sun
· 21 more- Justin Martin Travis Younger
- Phylicia Rashād Lena Younger
- Ron Cephas Jones Willy Harris
- David Oyelowo Joseph Asagai
- Rosemary Dunsmore Mrs. Arnold
- Yanna McIntosh Miss Tilly
- Bill Nunn Bobo
- Morgan Freeman Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Sean Patrick Thomas George Murchison
- John Stamos Carl Linder
- Sandi Ross Earline Johnson
- Gene Mack Bartender
- Jean Daigle Cop
- Dan Warry-Smith Grocery Clerk
- Rudy Webb Mr. Johnson
- Elle Downs Cocktail Waitress
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- James Kirchner Mailman
- Demo Cates Sax Player
- Emily Swiss Priscilla Holiday
- Paul Stephen Mr. Arnold
- Earl McLean Jr. Bubba
More from Kenny Leon
More films directed by Kenny Leon: The Public’s Much Ado About Nothing, Hairspray Live!, The Wiz Live! and In My Dreams.
A Raisin in the Sun Plot Summary
What happens in A Raisin in the Sun from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1959 Chicago, Walter Lee Younger and his family stand at a crossroads as they await a $10,000 life insurance check after the death of Walter Lee Sr., their father and a figure who dreamed of a better life. The money becomes a focal point for competing dreams: Ruth Younger hopes it will ease daily burdens for her husband, her son Travis Younger, and herself, while Beneatha Younger envisions funding her medical school education. Yet tension threads through every plan, as Lena Younger, their mother, longs to use the money to buy a house she and her late husband once dreamed of, a symbol of stability and possibility.
Full summary
The whole story of A Raisin in the Sun, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know A Raisin in the Sun?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What amount does the Younger family expect to receive from the life‑insurance check?
Cars in A Raisin in the Sun
1 car on screen: the Checker Marathon.
-
Checker Marathon Minor role
A Raisin in the Sun Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “A Raisin in the Sun - Un grappolo di sole” and “Un Raisin au soleil”.
- Also known as
-
- A Raisin in the Sun - Un grappolo di sole
- Un Raisin au soleil
- Zatmění slunce
- Una sombra bajo el sol
- Güneşte Bir Kuru Üzüm
- 日光下的葡萄干
- Küzdelmes élet
- O Sol Tornará a Brilhar
Seen A Raisin in the Sun?
Movies Like A Raisin in the Sun
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Raisin in the Sun, A Raisin in the Sun and A Home of Our Own.
A Raisin in the Sun FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of A Raisin in the Sun, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Raisin in the Sun?
A Raisin in the Sun runs 2 hours 11 minutes (131 minutes).
When was A Raisin in the Sun released?
A Raisin in the Sun was released on February 25, 2008.
Who directed A Raisin in the Sun?
A Raisin in the Sun was directed by Kenny Leon.
More films by Kenny Leon Who is in the cast of A Raisin in the Sun?
A Raisin in the Sun stars Sean Combs as Walter Lee Younger, Martin Roach as Walter Lee Sr. and Audra McDonald as Ruth Younger, among 25 credited actors.
Does A Raisin in the Sun have a post-credit scene?
No. A Raisin in the Sun has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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