Movie review of “Dear White People”
DEAR WHITE PEOPLE (2014)
Cast
Tyler James Williams as Lionel Higgins
Tessa Thompson as Samantha White
Teyonah Parris as Colandrea Conners
Brandon P. Bell as Troy
Kyle Gallner
Dennis Haysbert
Director
Justin Simien
Justin Simien
Type of Film
Comedy, Drama
Time
109 minutes
Genre
Comedy
Summary of the Film
Justin Simien’s "Dear White People" is one of the most interesting young black renditions of the treatment of young black people and their white counterparts as they strive to achieve success. The film is a comedy, but despite the amusement in the film, the competition between these black and white students comes out in the way teach group tries to achieve social control of the other group. The blacks try to reach a higher status while the whites attempt to strengthen the position that they hold. Both groups are set on passing along their history to their offspring. There are two major events in the film that reflects the betrayal and power plays in the student government election. The event is complicated by House Negro or the Field Negro politics that belongs to a distant past and the theme of racism that reveals itself through a racist theme party that is hosted by the film’s equivalent of the Harvard Lampoon (Boone).
Evaluation of Dear White People
Almost every month producers and directors release another film that looks at the social divide in the past. Almost release of these black versus white films produce similar themes that show either the blacks gaining leverage over the whites in the society or the whites maintaining their dominance in the society. The history of the segregation between blacks and whites has made it possible for a number of writers and directors to become very rich. But some persons believe that they have had enough of the debates, the distress and the hardships of having to endure more films on the poor treatment of black people in the society. So why watch another black film? The answer is simple. The film is comedy at its best. The actors are familiar faces and this will make viewers feel comfortable knowing that the issues are deep, but one can enjoy the comedic presentation of a serious presentation.
“Dear White People” is a short comedy that reflects the “elite jockeying and politicking” (Boone) that is somewhat exhausting. Simien skillfully shows the ways in which the Ivy League institutions create a wide array of sandbox childishness that is not common to these institutions. “Dear White People” is definitely the representation of a different style and charisma that forces the viewers to forget and forgive the excess privileged narcissists. Interestingly, Thompson’s personality and her striking beauty will get you rooting for the film in many ways. Co-star, Tyler James Williams of "Everybody Hates Chris" also gives an outstanding performance that will keep you locked into the reality racial divide.
Williams plays the role of the co-star excellent as he leads the films from the background. His role as an Afro gay Lionel is remarkably different from the typical Afro male in previous films. His role as an off-beat young black man trying to survive the society’s expectations leads to much sympathy and even humor. Additionally, Williams entertains and educates the viewers because “he simply stands for any Negro kid who finds himself adrift in a sea of cliques” (Boone) which is significant to his role. The film will appeal largely to the younger generation as William’s role changes and this makes the film interesting despite the humor. He tries to do what the typical teenagers do when he imagines fitting into the social realm of the Caucasian children and then with Afro-centric groups. Through his constantly changing costumes the viewers will see the inner struggles of Lionel as he attempts to fit into the mold of each reality. But, none of these molds truly reflect Lionel’s reality.
The tone of the film is broader and bolder than many previous films with similar themes and the viewers will undoubtedly enjoy the deeper meaning behind the “calculating, thin-skinned brats” (Boone). Despite the comedy in the film, the viewers will be forced to embrace the intense, sensitive meaning of the film the eyes of the mulatto radical on campus, Samantha White. White, played by Tessa Thompson shows the implosive rage and heartache that creates much excitement to the film.
If you are looking for a film with a hero and a foil, then “Dear White People” will force you to dig deep as the film allows the viewers to embrace the cross-cutting ensemble that shows young adults and elders responding to the problems in the university. Simien creates a web of satire that reflects the modern era where blacks have equal rights and a technological era that shows the influence of technology on the wider society. The satirical element “probes away relentlessly at the attitudes towards race and sex in the contemporary United States” (McNab). Simien brings to the industry a remarkable film that pushes the children to a breaking point that falls apart during the climactic party. The viewers witness the complex and vulnerable emotions in the characters that develop a sense of self-awareness that allows them to find themselves.
The film is exciting and worth seeing if you are tired of the whole race issue. There is no doubt that Simien wants the viewer to recognize that racism is over even though the wealthy, educated black and white students embrace the obsession with race. The use of the language, social media, fraternities and dating practices come alive in this spell-binding film.
Work Cited
Boone, Steven, Review: “Dear White People” (2014). Web 6 Mar 2016 <http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dear-white-people-2014>
McNab, Geoffrey, “Dear White People, movie review: Sharp satire, but sadly too contrived”
(2015), Independent, Web 6 Mar 2016 < http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dear-white-people-movie-review-sharp-satire-but-sadly-too-contrived-10377554.html>
