The Banker is a drama film based on real events, starring Anthony Mackie. The story revolves around Bernard, a black boy who shines shoes in 1939 Texas, where racial discrimination is prevalent. Despite his father's skepticism, Bernard is determined to become a banker. He moves to Los Angeles, where he starts a real estate business and eventually buys a property with the help of a white owner who guarantees a loan for him.
As the story unfolds, Bernard faces numerous challenges, including racism and discriminatory practices in the banking industry. However, he perseveres and eventually buys a building in downtown Los Angeles, which becomes a hub for his real estate business. He then sets his sights on buying the main bank in Texas, where he faces even more resistance and racism.
Despite the obstacles, Bernard and his partners, Joe and Matt, manage to acquire the bank and start helping African Americans get approved for loans. However, their success is short-lived, as they are eventually caught up in a web of racial politics and corruption, leading to their downfall.
The film ends with Bernard and Joe serving time in federal prison, while Matt testifies against them in exchange for his freedom. However, in a surprising twist, it is revealed that Bernard and Joe had secretly transferred their assets to the Bahamas, where they own adjoining mansions, highlighting their determination and resilience in the face of adversity.
The film is a powerful commentary on racial discrimination and the struggles faced by African Americans in the banking and real estate industries. It showcases the strength and perseverance of Bernard and his partners as they strive to achieve their goals and fight against systemic racism.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The film "The Banker" is based on real events.
2. The film stars Anthony Mackie.
3. The story is set in 1939 Texas.
4. The main character, Bernard, is a black boy who shines shoes outside a bank.
5. Bernard listens to the financial conversations of the bank's customers and writes them down in a notebook.
6. Bernard's dream is to become a banker.
7. Bernard's father tells him it's impossible for a black person to become a banker in Texas.
8. Fifteen years later, Bernard moves to Los Angeles with his wife.
9. Bernard becomes a real estate agent and notices that the black community in Los Angeles is overpopulated while the white community has many empty houses.
10. Bernard sees a business opportunity in real estate speculation and renting properties to black people.
11. Bernard proposes a deal to a property owner to buy a building and rent it to black tenants.
12. The owner is hesitant at first but eventually agrees to the deal.
13. Bernard's business partner is the owner's wife, who discriminates against blacks.
14. Bernard decides to go to court to fight for his rights.
15. Bernard meets a bank director who is willing to testify on his behalf.
16. Bernard comes up with a plan to buy the building that houses the bank.
17. Bernard recruits a black real estate developer, Joe, to help him with the plan.
18. Bernard and Joe use a white man, Matt, as a front to negotiate the purchase of the building.
19. Bernard and Joe's real estate business expands rapidly, and they break the segregation of whites and blacks in Los Angeles.
20. Bernard returns to Texas and decides to buy the main bank in the state.
21. Bernard and Joe recruit Matt again to help them with the purchase.
22. Matt meets with the bank owner, Robert Lawrence, to discuss the deal.
23. Bernard and Joe's plan is to help African Americans in Texas get approved for loans.
24. However, Florence Junior, a bank examiner, begins to investigate the loans and threatens Bernard and Joe.
25. Bernard and Joe decide to buy another bank and transfer the problematic loans to that bank.
26. However, Matt makes a move without notifying his partners and gets caught up in a scandal.
27. The federal bank examiners arrive to revoke the bank's operation, and Bernard and Joe are sentenced to federal prison.
28. Florence Junior buys the bank for a small fraction of the price paid by Bernard and Joe.
29. Bernard and Joe leave prison and reveal that they have properties in the Bahamas.
30. The film ends with the message that Bernard and Joe's residential properties were instrumental in the fight against housing segregation in Los Angeles.