After watching the film and reading Bordwell and Thompson’s piece on “Do the Right Thing,” I am still left wondering what the “right thing” is. As the film criticism notes, it is a bit unclear about what Mookie is planning to do with his money. Throughout the film, he is constantly questioning Sal about when he is going to get paid, and I am left wondering if he plans to use this money for selfish reasons, or if he plans to put the money aside for his family. However, it is also possible that the “right thing” is commenting upon racial tension within the neighborhood. Maybe the “right thing” is about how the different communities within the neighborhood treat each other, or about how these communities will coexist. The ending is ambiguous, and I wonder what Sal is going to do now that his restaurant was destroyed. Relating to this idea, I found the concept of hierarchy interesting, and about who is serving who. 

Also, as mentioned in the film criticism, the heat wave serves to intensify the characters’ tensions. In each scene, the characters are seen visibly sweating, which makes the tension more realistic, and proves how hard they are working despite the heat. Bordwell and Thompson note that this film followed a cyclical nature, as DJ Mister Señor Love Daddy opened and closed the film. This choice highlighted the passage of time from one day to the next, but I think it also highlights the fact that this type of racial violence is bound to happen again. Conflict within this neighborhood seemed to be brewing for many years, and it is only a matter of time until another violent act ensues. He dedicates the song on the radio to Radio Raheem, and it seems like this is the only thing that can be done at the moment, and people in the neighborhood are continuing with their lives as normal amidst this tragedy.