This movie is primarily about black-white interracial dating along with a subplot tucked inside (read on). Director and screenplay writer Spike Lee uses a story about an African American male (played by actor Wesley Snipes) and a white (Italian American) female (depicted by actress Annabella Sciorra) who end up in a relationship, despite the fact that Snipes' character is married and the city that the couple lives in (New York) is racially segregated. There is no overbearing message here -- the movie seems to want to exist as a documentation of the fact that interracial couplings do happen despite society's misgivings, and seems to serve as a way for the uneducated viewer as a way to humanize such relationships. The subplot tells a story that shows the two very different lives lead Snipes' character when he has to take care of his drug-addicted brother. The film shows that this is a burden on Snipes' character, but is something that still is a part of him no matter how successful he is, and frames his outlook on life as well.