In 1986 Spike Lee wrote, directed, and edited his breakthrough film, a comedy, with a budget of $160,000, and he did it in 12 days. What was the title of the film?

Spike Lee's 1986 breakthrough film, *She's Gotta Have It*, is a landmark of independent cinema, made all the more remarkable by its humble origins. Lee famously financed the film with grants and credit card debt, pulling together a shoestring budget of $160,000. He then wrote, directed, edited, and even co-starred in the comedy, completing the entire shoot in just 12 days during a hot New York summer. This incredible feat of guerrilla filmmaking resulted in a work that would launch his legendary career.

The film centers on Nola Darling, a young, independent Brooklyn artist juggling relationships with three different men, refusing to commit to just one. Shot almost entirely in stylish black and white, a choice made for both aesthetic and budgetary reasons, the film has a raw, intimate feel. Its frank and nuanced depiction of a sexually liberated Black woman was groundbreaking for its time, challenging stereotypes and presenting a perspective rarely seen in mainstream American movies.

The movie was a critical and commercial success, earning over $7 million at the box office and establishing Lee as a major new voice in filmmaking. Lee's own character, the bicycle-riding, fast-talking Mars Blackmon, became so popular that he was later featured in iconic Nike commercials alongside Michael Jordan. The story's enduring relevance was proven when Lee himself adapted it into a television series for Netflix in 2017.