LLGFF Review Pariah

This feature originally aired at LLGFF in 2007 as a short. Writer/Director Dee Rees started Pariah as a feature but whilst interning on Spike Lee’s ‘Inside Man’ and writing her master thesis, she took the first act and shot it as a short – so successful it led to the feature being made.

This contemporary drama is another fine example of the quality of films at the 2012 festival and the highest quality lesbian programming we’ve been lucky to see for a long time. Let’s hope its a turning tide for lesbian films.

The film is set in Brooklyn, New York and is a strong film which has a great soundtrack. The main character Alike is a poet and uses words to explain her feelings and emotions.

Rather refreshingly the film picks up right in the action and from the outset the tone is set. 17 year old Alike knows she is gay and is frequenting the local nightclub with her best friend Laura. Unlike Laura, who has a way with the ladies, Alike is shy and looking for a girlfriend rather than a one night stand.

This film deals with a number of key themes well established in coming of age films, which we can all relate to. From parents fighting over ‘who should talk to their daughter about what is happening to her’, to a mum not liking the friends you keep, the conflict caused by religious beliefs and discovering sexuality, as well as trying to find yourself and your first relationship.

I particularly liked the way Alike was portrayed as having two personas. The one at school and in clubs and the one at home. Using the bus and school toilets to transform, fighting to keep her two lives separate.

I also thought the best friend Laura was a particularly strong character. I was happy to see the two sides of her shown – the external character who charms the ladies and the softer, caring side hidden from prying eyes, hiding below the surface.

Another aspect that rang true for me was the scene where Alike talks to her father about fancying someone. I remember that feeling of ‘trying to talk to my parents about my feelings, and having met someone, and predictably they jumped to an assumption that it’s a boyfriend... which immediately causes you to shut down because it is awkward and they obviously don’t understand as much as you thought’.

Another strand, ultimately with a strong message for me was that ultimately, everyone has their own priorities and puts themselves first. Adolescence is about finding who you are and sometimes the journey to discover this can be painful as well as exciting and fun.