African-American History Month film series

An inspiring drama about a black lesbian teenager in Brooklyn who must wrestle with the prejudices of her family, and her own fears, as she struggles to come out of the closet and discover her true self

Seventeen-year-old Alike (pronounced A-leekay and perfectly played by Adepero Oduye) is a young woman who exists in two worlds. In one, she lives harmoniously in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighbourhood with her middle-class, conservative parents, Audrey (Kim Wayans) and Arthur (Charles Parnell). She is a traditionally feminine, obedient daughter who does well in school. The other side of Alike’s life is spent with her out-of-the-closet best friend Laura (Pernell Walker), dancing in gay clubs, embracing her nascent identity as a lesbian and seeking her first serious girlfriend. It’s inevitable that these worlds will collide. Gaining confidence and fervently wishing to live openly without shame, Alike is impatient to disclose the truth but ultimately unsure about fully revealing herself to her family — until circumstances force her hand. Pariah is about much more than deciding whether to come out to the world. There isn’t a parent alive who won’t identify with Audrey’s anxieties or world-weary Arthur’s soft spot for his daughter. And who among us has not deeply feared the revelation of a secret? It is the specificity of the story and characters in Pariah that results in the film’s universal appeal and its wide-ranging emotional power. (USA, 2011, 86 min., color, 35mm)

2011 Toronto International Film Festival • 2011 Sundance Film Festival – Winner Best Cinematography

“At its heart is an incandescent performance by Ms. Oduye, who captures the jagged mood swings of late adolescence with a wonderfully spontaneous fluency.” -Stephen Holden, NY TIMES

“The gifted Dee Rees makes finding out a stirring and heartfelt journey. And Adepero Oduye is unforgettable. A star is born.” -Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

“In her fearless, world-here-I-am! debut Pariah, writer-director Dee Rees demonstrates, with simplicity and verve, that there’s no substitute for authenticity.” -Lisa Schwartzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“The originality lies in the details, and the dramatic energy that sustains almost every scene.” -Joe Morgenstern, WALL STREET JOURNAL

“**** 4 Stars! Something so honest and touching that you’re instantly drawn in to its feelings and sense of place.” -Joe Neumaier, NY DAILY NEWS

“This is a look at the joy, confusion and heartbreak of adolescence that’s both culture- and locale-specific and, at the same time, universal.” -Lou Lumenick, NY POST