STRAW - Characters & Cast

Her primary motivation is the care and survival of her sick daughter, Aria. Every action, from working her job to attempting to cash her check for lunch money, is driven by maternal desperation. After the film's twist, it's revealed her motivation is a tragic, grief-stricken attempt to continue protecting a memory.

Janiyah begins as a sympathetic, hardworking mother trying to do right by her daughter against impossible odds. Throughout one day, the relentless pressure from society pushes her from a state of quiet desperation to a complete psychological break. Her arc is a tragic descent into chaos, where she loses everything, including her grip on reality, forcing the world that ignored her to finally pay attention.

Motivated by empathy and a fundamental sense of decency, Nicole feels compelled to help the clearly distressed Janiyah. As a fellow Black woman and mother, she understands the societal pressures Janiyah faces and is driven to offer the support and grace that no one else will.

Nicole is a bank teller who is thrust into the hostage situation. Initially just another person in Janiyah's path, she quickly becomes Janiyah's most crucial ally. Her arc is one of rising to the occasion with immense compassion, choosing to see the humanity in Janiyah and actively working to de-escalate the situation, becoming a bridge between Janiyah and the police.

As a Black woman, she sees the person behind the alleged crime. Her motivation is to resolve the crisis without further tragedy, driven by an instinct that there is more to the story than a simple bank robbery. She aims to give Janiyah the chance to be heard that society has denied her.

Detective Raymond represents a more compassionate form of law enforcement. From the start, she resists the aggressive, brute-force tactics of her male colleagues, including Chief Wilson. Her arc is about fighting to maintain a humane approach within a rigid and often violent system, prioritizing understanding Janiyah's state of mind over immediate neutralization.

Benny is motivated by a simple, reciprocal kindness. He observes Janiyah's daily struggles and her small acts of generosity, and his character serves to show the audience the 'real' Janiyah before the trauma of the day consumes her.

Benny is Janiyah's neighbor in a wheelchair to whom she shows kindness even in her own poverty. He serves as a witness to her gentle nature before her world collapses. His presence at the beginning of the film establishes Janiyah's inherent goodness. Taraji P. Henson has described the character as a symbolic "angel" in Janiyah's life, someone who truly saw her.