When Andre Gaines decided to adapt Amiri Baraka’s 1964 one-act play The Dutchman, he admits he initially thought it might be a simpler lift — two characters on a train, a contained story. But once he began writing, he quickly realized that translating Baraka’s poetic, explosive dialogue into a modern feature would require more than just putting the play on screen. It would require expansion, interpretation, and intention.
READ: Review: ‘The Dutchman’ Reimagines Amiri Baraka’s Provocation for a Modern Audience
Starring André Holland as Clay and Kate Mara as Lula, alongside Aldis Hodge and Stephen McKinley Henderson, Gaines’ version widens the lens — moving beyond the subway car and into the psychological and political spaces that shape Black identity, masculinity, and respectability politics today. The film leans into discomfort, magic realism, and cultural specificity, sparking strong reactions from critics and audiences alike.
In our conversation, Gaines breaks down why he expanded the world beyond the train, what the controversial party scene represents, how lived experience shapes interpretation, and why he wasn’t surprised by the divide in critical response. He also reflects on the burden of representation placed on Black Americans — a theme that quietly pulses beneath the film’s tension.
The Dutchman is available to rent or own on VOD. Watch the full interview with Andre Gaines below.