Year Released: 2011
Director: Dee Rees
Screenplay by: Dee Rees
Rating:
(4.5/5 Stars)Pariah opens at a nightclub that caters to lesbians; we hear raunchy music and see a particularly limber pole dancer flaunting her talent. After glimpsing this scene, the youth and innocence of the 17-year-old protagonist Alike (Adepero Oduye) and her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker) come as a bit of a surprise.
I immediately warmed up to these two young women. Alike is exceptionally bright and creative. She is somewhat shy and reserved but has a smile that could light up a room. Laura is a bit edgy and boisterous. She works hard to make ends meet and pass the GED after being abandoned by her mother.
Our first glimpse of Alike is memorable. Instead of a camera zooming in on her, we see a tight shot of her back and face. This sets the tone for the movie. It's very intimate and real. I found myself feeling as if I were in Alike's skin, and when she was hurting, I had knots in my stomach.
