[FilmReview]Pariah(2011)7.5/10

Adecisivelyunsentimentalandhonestentryinthequeercinema,PARIAHisheretostay.DeeRees’debutfeature,acoming-outdramaexpandingfromher2007shortofthesamename,pivotsona17-year-oldAlike(Oduye,reprisesthesamerole),anAfrican-Americangirlmaladroitlyexploresherinchoatesexualityagainstastiflingfamilialinterference.Onpaper,thisprécisisjustlikeoneofthenumberlessreiterationsofitsilks,abumpyjourneyofself-discovery,trepidation,excitement,andsorrow,mingledwithtemporalprejudiceandreligion-inflamednarrow-mindedness.ButDeeRees,againstthestoryx27;swell-troddenpath(although,bothherandAlike’sethnicattributesgiveitsstoryanedgeoffreshness),lendsAlike’sbittersweetrite-of-passageadistinctflavorofprobityandplausibilitythatrefusestosweetthepill.LittledoubtiscastonAlike’sself-identificationasalesbian,themeatofherday-to-daybattleiswiththeworldaroundher,andpointedlywithherfamily,Audrey(Wayans),herGod-botheringmotherhigh-handedlyreprovesherinappropriateget-upandchoiceoffriend,herbestieisLaura(Walker),anout-and-outbutch,maskinghercrushbyusheringAliketothelocallesbianhaunts.ItisnotinthestrobingnightspotwhereAliketastestheforbiddenfruitforthefirsttime,butironically,itisthroughBina(Davis),hermother’sappointedfriend,thedaughterofherchurch-goingcoworker,Alikefullyconsummatesherpassion,yettheverynextday,hitstherockbottomofaheartbreak,Binax27;smood-swingisarguably,theweakestnarrativelinkageintheotherwise,slow-burneddrama.Induetime,Alike’sbaptismoffirewillreachtheboilingpointinaseminalclimaxwhenshecomesoutduringherparents’escalatingwrangle,theexplosionistempestuousandnoeasyreconciliationisattainedafterward,butAlike,facilitatedbyherknackofwriting,finally,shecanthrowoffherguiltandsecret,embraceanewleaseonherlifewithresolution,sheisquot;notrunningbutchoosing”,asagaciouswarcrytoheightentherequisiteofhavingachoice,forthosemarginalizedandnonconformist.WhileDeeReesandherDPBradfordYounggracethestorywitharaw,restiveenergythatbestencapsulatesBrooklyn’smilieuofblackurbanteenagers,Alikex27;sstoryissustainedbyitsself-containedenvironswithexclusivelynon-whitecharacters,noracialtensionisbroached,homophobiaispandemic,inhomeandelsewhere,butatouchingnoteisthatamongyoungergenerations,acceptancebecomesthenormalcy.Afactoidmightcompletelyknockone’ssocksoff,AdeperoOduyeis33whenmakingthisfilmandafurtherburrowingdiscoversthatAashaDavis,whoplaysherfellowhigh-schoolerBina,isbornin1973(sourcefromIMDb),itissheerbeggarbeliefthattheseactressescanpulloffplayingcharactershalftheirages(ablessingbestowedtotheracemaybe),especiallyinthecaseofOduye,animatedlyeffusesteenspiritandsimmeringangstinherbreakthroughperformance.Amonggrown-upstherearealsoworthyplayers,althoughcomparativelyinalesserextent,CharlesParnell(ayounger-lookingKeithDavid,anyone?)adeptlybalanceshisbenevolentfatherfigurewithhislesssavoryimageofamiffedandcheatinghusbandasArthur,Alike’sfather;thenKimWayans,themega-villaininthisshoestringproduction,isanothermonstrousmotherfigureinthespiritofMoniqueisLeeDaniels’PRECIOUS(2009),lessblusteringbutequallytoxicandintractable.AdecisivelyunsentimentalentryinthequeercinemaandaresoundingtestinggroundofDeeRees’acumenandauteuristdisposition,PARIAHisheretostay.referentialfilms:DeeRees’MUDBOUND(2017,8.1/10);LeeDaniels’PRECIOUS(2009,7.9/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。