The first thing people who haven't seen Pariah are going to say is that it looks a lot like this year's Precious. An unfortunate comparison, borne out of ignorance and the need to lump all urban, specifically African-American dramas into the same category. One of the great things about Dee Rees' powerful debut feature is that much like it's central character, Pariah doesn't fit anywhere neatly. If Precious was an overbearing sledgehammer, Pariah is a subtle yet commanding film about one girl trying find her place in a confusing world.
This isn't a coming of age story, or a journey of self discovery. Alike(Adepero Oduye) is an African-American teenager, and along with the usual heartaches that come with being a high schooler, she also happens to be a lesbian. This hasn't slowed her down in any way, nor is she suffering from any sexual confusion. She knows who she is. The problem is that she's living a double life of sorts, and can't figure out a way to make them both gel. Her best friend, the very butch Laura(Pernell Walker), wants to see Alike come out of her shell, and takes her to any number of hardcore gay nightclubs to do it. While she does indulge in some experimentation, Alike is mostly introverted and quiet in comparison to her brazen peers.
It's in Alike's home life that we see the full cause of her consternation. She doesn't exactly have the most reliable parental guidance a girl in her position could use. Alike's close-knit bond with her oft absent father(Charles Parnell) is blunted by the secrets between them. On the other hand, Alike's Bible quoting, sterner than nails mother(a surprising Kim Wayans) suspects the truth, but recognizes the impact confrontation could have. Alike isn't quick to rock the boat, and genuinely wants to keep everyone happy even at her own expense. It's not until she becomes fast friends with Bina, a girl who seems to be everything Alike could ever hope for. She's "normal" enough to please her mother who has no use for Laura at all, but Bina may also be that bridge to make Alike's coming out to them more palatable. That's if everything goes how she wants it to.
While films like The Kids Are All Right have helped bring homosexual issues into a universal light for a lot of people, it remains a tough issue in African-American society where it's often perceived as weakness. You can see elements of this portrayed in Alike's father, a cop who would fly off the handle at even the suggestion his daughter may be gay. There's also something to be said about a minority class amidst another minority class. These issues are touched upon with great care and subtlety by Rees, who built the film from the ground up based on her own short story. Rees has a lot to say, and at times I think she tries too hard to cram everything in, resulting in the cutting of corners with a couple of characters. This happens in some extent with Alike as well, and her relationship with a teacher who encourages her poetry. It's the one part of the film that felt formulaic and soft.
Adepero Oduye gives a spirited, convincing and honest performance as Alike. Justifiably she's receiving the bulk of the awards attention for what will surely be the beginning of a fantastic career. Kim Wayans...yes, In Living Color Kim Wayans....has a much tougher job here than Monique did in Precious. She's playing a woman who isn't a terrible mother, just someone who has her nose so deep into her Bible that she's unprepared for reality when it lands on her doorstep. Here's hoping a Best Supporting Actress nomination is in her future.
With a gritty, personal style of filmmaking that gives Pariah a harsher, realistic vibe, Dee Rees has established herself as a filmmaker to keep an eye on. Pariah isn't going to go down easy for a lot of people, but that's exactly why it's so brave. Here's hoping we get a chance to see what else she has up her sleeve.
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