A modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago.
Writing
Rhyming dialogue that refuses to let you get comfortable.
Direction
Spike Lee at his most deliberately confrontational.
Acting
Teyonah Parris commands every frame she's in.
Director
Spike Lee
Teyonah Parris
Lysistrata
Nick Cannon
Demetrius 'Chi-Raq' Dupree
Wesley Snipes
Sean 'Cyclops' Andrews
Angela Bassett
Miss Helen Worthy
Samuel L. Jackson
Dolmedes
John Cusack
Fr. Mike Corridan
Jennifer Hudson
Irene
David Patrick Kelly
General King Kong
D. B. Sweeney
Mayor McCloud
Dave Chappelle
Morris
Steve Harris
Ole Duke
Harry Lennix
Commissioner Blades
Anya Engel-Adams
Rasheeda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Spike Lee filmed during Chicago's deadliest year and cast actual Englewood residents; the title itself was coined by locals combining 'Chicago' and 'Iraq' to describe their own streets.
The Samuel L. Jackson narrator breaks the fourth wall so aggressively he essentially argues with the audience about whether they're watching art or exploitation—which is exactly the point.
US
