Adepero Oduye and Charles Parnell as Arthur.
- Adepero Oduye and Kim Wayans as Audrey.
- Pernell Walker as Laura.
- Aasha Davis as Bina.
- Heartbreak opens onto the sunrise
For even breaking is opening And I am broken
I am open
Broken to the new light without pushing in
Open to the possibilities within pushing out
See the love shine in through my cracks
See the light shine out through me? I am broken
I am open
I am Broken Open
See the love-light shining through me
Shining through my cracks
Through the gaps
My Spirit takes journey
My Spirit takes flight
Could not have risen otherwise And I am not Running
I am Choosing
Running is not a Choice
From the Breaking
Breaking is freeing
Broken is freedom
I am not broken
I am free.
ARTHUR. I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry I let her hurt you—
ALIKE. I need to know if you'll sign the papers. Yes or no?
ARTHUR. Can you forgive me?
ALIKE. Yes or no?
ALIKE. You can always come back home. Things are gonna be different, I promise you—
Alike holds Arthur's hand, stopping him.
ALIKE. Dad, I'm not running. I'm choosing.
Arthur's heart breaks, he gasps back a sob.
ALIKE. I'm not going back home.
ARTHUR. I know...Okay.
AUDREY. Tell him!
Arthur's expression cracks and he tears his focus from Audrey to Alike.
ARTHUR. Tell me what?!
ALIKE. I'm not tellin' you nothin'.
AUDREY. Tell him you're a dyke! You tell him you're a nasty ass dyke!
ARTHUR. No she's not gay. Alike we didn't raise you that way, baby.
Eyes still downcast, Alike just shakes her head and backs away.
AUDREY. There!! You see!!
ARTHUR. You shut the hell up Audrey!!
Arthur extends his arms toward Alike, his voice trembling.
ARTHUR. I know it's not true. You tell your mother right now, Alike. You tell her it isn't true!!
Alike meets her father's eyes.
ALIKE. Dad—
ARTHUR. Don't you lie now, you tell the truth!!
ALIKE. You already know.
ARTHUR. No, I don't know. You just tell your mother it's just a phase.
ALIKE. It's not a phase!
LAURA. What I'm saying is, I probably overreacted. And then...I don't know. Seeing you two together or whatever. I'm glad to see you're finally happy.
ALIKE. C'mon man, you know you're my best friend. Nobody's gonna—
LAURA. You don't need to say anything. I just wanted to get it off my chest. I'm happy for you, that's all. Because I love you, alright? And I'm sayin'...I'm right here.
Alike is stopped cold, as the light bulb finally goes off. - 1. Your reaction to the film now that you've seen the whole thing? What scene or moment stayed with you from today's viewing—and why?
- 2. Today in 5th period, Jordan said—and I'm badly paraphrasing—that this isn't a lesbian film or a black film but a coming-of-age film. Do you agree or disagree—or wish to revise what Jordan said? Explain your answer.
- 3. For 5th period to answer. Several of you—and some in 5th period—said that this was the first independent film you had ever seen. Read this definition of independent film. Stating that everything we've seen up to now are not independent films, what makes Pariah different from them—and thus an independent film? Use a detail from two of the films we've watched in your answer. Do not simply repeat what someone before you has said.
- 3. For 6th period to answer. We've mentioned the way Dee Rees uses the camera in Pariah. And we can assume that her choices were not completely dictated by the money she had to spend. So how does the way Rees use her camera support the theme(s) and/or message and/or intent of Pariah? Use a specific example from the movie in your answer. Please: do not simply repeat what others have said. Add to what they said; say something different.
- 4. Aaren wrote yesterday that "when the movie started, I was really shocked because I could not fathom that a teacher would show a movie this raunchy. The first couple minutes were literally in a strip club so the viewer knew that the tone of the film was pretty unorthodox for a high school." I had my worries about showing this for the very reasons Aaren brought up. Do you think this film is appropriate for school? Write 3-4 sentences please. You can, of course, write more.
- 5. What's one thing you would want to talk about concerning this movie?
See you all tomorrow.
I liked this movie a lot. I was impressed by the character development of Alike even though it was not a long film. One moment that stayed with me was when Alike told her dad she is making a choice to leave and she is not running. This stuck with me because it shows that Alike is strong and she is wants to do what makes her happy even if it means leaving what she has known for her whole life. Alike never gives up hope and is who she is despite the resistance she gets from one people around her.
ReplyDeleteYes I do agree. This movie is about a girl trying to discover who she is and be confident in herself and the fact that she is lesbian helped guide her to her new found resilience. She gains the courage to stand up to her mother and admit who she is even though she knows she probably won't be accepted. Her growth is very prevalent throughout the movie.
I think there are a lot of different aspects that make this an independent film. The fact that there was a low budget may have something to do with it, but I feel like the story was more personal that in other movies we have watched. There are no special effects or anything like that. It is just the life of a normal 17 year old girl. Unlike in Million Dollar Baby there is no fame or fortune involved, or like in Paths of Glory there was no heroes journey. It was a very real story.
Although it may be kind of uncomfortable in a school setting, I still think it is appropriate considering our age group. I think that if this film was shown to freshman or sophomores in could be a little much, but with that being said, I don't think the raunchy bits in the film make it an overall inappropriate movie. The story is not based around sex or bad language, and I think that the movie as a whole is something high schoolers should see considering the main characters are our same age.
I think it would be interesting to discuss the relationship between Alike and her sister.
1. I love this film. The moment that stayed with me was definitely the scene in which Audrey and Arthur were fighting over whether or not Alike is gay and Audrey chokes her daughter and starts hitting her. I know I know, of course that's going to stay with anyone watching this film. However, that moment sent chills down my whole body and I started tearing up. It's very rare that a movie will do that with me, and I have to give it props for that.
ReplyDelete2. First of all, why do we even need to categorize this? It still breaks the cliches of all of these categorizes. Anyways, I think it's all three. The movie certainly centers around the coming-of-age story, but to ignore the backdrop of race and sexual orientation would be foolish. I don't think this is what Jordan was saying, but I would disagree with the statement that it is not a lesbian film or black film. Just because those aspects aren't at the forefront doesn't mean they are an essential part of who this film is. I am reminded of Creed (when we talked about this in your short term class), in that race is never explicitly addressed, yet the movie is certainly making a statement by having a majority african american cast. Pariah does the same thing, but even more so.
3. Both Seven Samurai and Million Dollar Baby had a massive budget (in comparison to Pariah) and featured well known movies stars (Toshiba Mifune and Hilary Swank respectively). Also, Pariah remains to be a very personal film. It was a story told from the perspective of the director, which contrasts the previous films more objective storytelling.
4. Yeah I think so. This film is literally about a 17 year old, and even though I'm not going clubbing every night, I think it makes even more sense for this to be shown to us as we can relate to the "finding oneself" narrative even more than the usual audience.
5. Do you think Dee Rees purposely named her main character "Alike" because it looks exactly like "alike" (meaning 'similar to'). Cause that is so smart. One could say... Alike is not alike any of her peers...
1. This film is now one of my favorite films ever. The style of the film was beautiful and the storytelling reminded me of one of my current favorite film studios, A24. A24 films tend to focus on coming of age through a snapshot of a character’s life. There’s no big drama or adventure, we just simply see life play out at a particular moment. The scene that stayed with my the most was when Alike’s mother assaulted her and was wrestled away by the father. Mothers are stereotypically the loving parent, and everything in the film built up to the father being the one to snap, but instead it is Alike’s mother. In one brief moment we see all that she’s been holding back for the entire film.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with myself, of course. This film is a coming-of-age film above all because we are presented with a character at the peak of her adolescence who rises into maturity throughout the movie. Her lesbian and black identity are important as they inform the settings of Alike’s life and the people and places that she associates with, but those identities aren’t what the film is about.
3. I believe that Pariah is an independent film because it feels like an Indie film. Of course, Indie films come in all shapes and sizes, but the ones I tend to watch all seem to fit into a particular grouping. Above, I mentioned A24, and their films often resemble Pariah as they are often homegrown coming-of-age films, sometimes from the perspectives underrepresented groups like Pariah is. These films all have quirky visual styles that help this stick out as well. Of course, Pariah’s lack of any ties to the conventional studios also contributes to the indie factor. It had an incredibly small budget and was spearheaded by a relatively unknown director and screenwriter. Seven Samurai was a film that had received funding from a larger label and was directed by an established director. It also doesn’t have the indie feel. It’s too grand and lacks the intimacy of the movies I categorize as independent. Million Dollar Baby is in the same boat as Seven Samurai, although the feel is still more independent than that of Seven Samurai, it’s not quite near Pariah.
5. I think this film is appropriate for school. As Juniors and Seniors, we’re all mature enough to understand and process the content of Pariah. We are also not being exposed to anything we wouldn’t have likely encountered beforehand. This film is, in fact, especially appropriate to be shown now, as we are the same age as Alike and therefore the most fitting to be able to relate to her character and her position.
6. I would want to talk more about the homophobia imbedded twin the black community. It’s often overlooked, especially here at Paideia, where we all consider ourselves “woke” and are occasionally ignorant to the issues lying dormant in our individual communities.
Now that I have seen the whole film, I can say that I do like it. In a way, I can relate to some of the commentary/ways characters act in the film. The scene that has most stayed with me is the scene where Alike’s father quietly returns to the house in the middle of the night, and Alike’s mom pretends to sleep on the couch. For one, the moment when the mom put her book down and pretended to sleep really subtlety emphasized the tension within the family. To some degree, I’d understand and almost agree with the moms actions if the person walking in the door was Alike. Children often lie, and aren’t generally expected to tell the truth all of the time. For adults, the assumption is different. In putting the book down and pretending to be asleep when the dad walked in, we see that the mom can’t even trust her own husband, an adult who, out of anyone, she should be able to trust. During the argument portion of the scene my outlook on both the mom and the dads’ characters changed. For the dad, we see that he’s not solely a loving, caring father who tries to help both his wife and daughter, but see that he is cheating on his wife. My opinion of the dad plummeted. For the mom, I originally thought she was a little paranoid. However, in seeing her desperation to find out the truth, and seeing that she was right to have some questions, I realize how conflicted she was from the beginning. What I thought was paranoia was actually justified fear.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Jordan said. I think that the main focus of the film is to show the struggles and general life of a teenager trying to find their purpose and place in life. That’s not to say that the race and sexual orientation of Alike are unimportant, but that these two facts help emphasize and show some of the specific and general problems and struggles people Alike’s age can deal with in such a society.
I know this was briefly mentioned in class, but I’d like to come back to idea that we don’t see many, if any wide shots until the very end of the film. When we finally get a wide shot, it occurs during the conversation between Alike and her father on the roof of a building. They are having a conversation about Alike leaving her home and going out into the world to find her purpose/passion. She is breaking free of her parents and her conflicted life with them. Thus, I think that the wide shot signifies Alike’s freedom as well as the open possibilities of the world. Her mother’s confining ideas of who Alike should be no longer control her life. This wide shot also contrasts with the constant close up shots earlier in the film during Alike’s troublesome and confusing period of life. The close up shots signify the almost prison like existence Alike experiences in her struggle to find herself.
I think Pariah, and the opening scenes of the movie, are appropriate for a high school audience. I would say that at Paideia we are a very open community which preachers being comfortable with sexuality and other ideas pertaining to sex and gender. We also have multiple courses specifically on the subject of sexuality, namely the class called “Sexuality”. Thus, I think that showing the film to this group of students is okay because we have been taught at least basic human anatomy and sexuality, and also taught to be mature people. If any student had a problem with the images, they had an opportunity to leave the room at the beginning of the film.
One thing I’d want to talk about concerning the film — the relationship between Laura and Alike fascinated me and made me happy that these two characters could have someone they could mostly depend on. However, their encounter cited above had me a little confused on what exactly their relationship was.
I really like Pariah. It is a little shocking while watching the film, but I think that is the purpose of keeping it so raw and real, so it was a good kind of shock. The scene that has stayed with me is when Alike’s mother won’t tell Alike she loves her when Alike says farewell to her mother. I kept hoping her mother would at least acknowledge that her daughter was leaving and be more sympathetic and fill the “mother role,” but it never happened.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan because I think this is definitely a coming-of-age film. I don’t think this film can be classified as a “lesbian film,” because half the message about sexuality is the reaction from the heterosexual population. Also, I don’t think this film can be classified as a “black film” either because half of the message for the audience is to show the differences between this world and the “white world.” That is part of the culture shock that could be experienced by the audience.
Actress Tilda Swindon said, “Independent in my mind means free.” I think this is a great word to describe Pariah, as it was free of the typical Hollywood boundaries which tend to limit the reality aspect in films. For example, in Million Dollar Baby, Maggie does not have a seizure in the movie, but merely ceases to breath. This was done to limit the shock effect of seeing a beloved actor die such an awful and graphic death. In Pariah, the language is much more graphic than we would see in a typical Hollywood movie. Political correctness was not considered, which also adds to the reality of the film.
I was questioning whether or not this film was appropriate for school or not; however, I am neutral. I would definitely not watch this movie with my parents, but I think it is important to be exposed to a certain amount of reality before “being released into the real world.” This movie is in no way censored and neither is life nor the human experience, so I think it is okay to show this film.
I am still turning ideas over in my mind regarding this film, but I guess I have more of a question. Was it better or worse for Alike to lean more towards Bina, who broke Alike’s heart but showed her a different/new way of life, rather than Laura, who loved Alike but followed a riskier and more complicated lifestyle?
My overall reaction to today’s viewing was very positive. The pain and growth that Alike experiences throughout the film made me feel deeply connected to her even though I've never gone through similar experiences. That is something I think the film does really well: developing characters in which any kind of viewer could feel for and connect to no matter how close or far they are from Alike’s life portrayed in the film they are. One moment that stayed with me was when Alike comes home from Bina’s house and destroys her room. This moment is the first time we see Alike physically portray her struggle and pain opposed to how she had been keeping it built up inside. It is almost a moment of transition after she violently destroys her room, she starts to actively accept herself for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Jordan said because it is true that the film contains race and sexuality themes and presences, but they don’t individually define the film. It is about Alike and her struggle of identity and lots of different aspects tie into this, but at the end of the day, it is purely her journey to acceptance of self and or coming of age.
Pariah is different than the other films we watched because it felt so much more personal, and had a completely different pace from the other movies we’ve seen. One could argue Million Dollar Baby is a personal film but not in the same way. Yes, it explores maggie’s personal journey, but the way Pariah delves into Alike’s life and world with such intimacy makes it different. Also in Seven Samurai, characters were developed, but the movie focused more on action and deep messages. I think the personal story-telling aspect of the film makes it independent, along with the lower budget and goal of the director.
I do not think this film is inappropriate for school. I have been shown many other films of the same nature in school before and I was not uncomfortable with the content in this film. I think an important distinction is the role of these scenes some could call “raunchy”. For example the strip club scene, in the beginning, this scene isn't there to objectify the women or just be controversial but rather to set up Alike’s queer identity as she struggles to find her place in this setting. I think when scenes with sexual nature have intended meaning and places in a narrative it is not inappropriate for our age group to observe and analyze this.
One thing I would like to discuss in class tomorrow is the importance of Alike’s poetry and the role it plays in her story.
ReplyDeleteI had a much stronger and more positive reaction to the second part of the film compared to the first part. The final scene with Alika and her mother really stuck with me because it cemented Alika’s mother’s rejection of her. The fact that Audrey refused to tell Alike that she loved her and she instead said that she would ”pray for her” hit me pretty hard because it is difficult for me to fathom that a mother could prioritize her antiquated religious beliefs over her daughter’s wellbeing.
I would agree that in its roots, Pariah is a coming of age film but I still think that it is about what it can be like to be homosexual in a black community. I think that Alika’s character growth is the main focus of the film, but I think race, sexuality, gender roles, and socioeconomics were also important themes.
I think that Dee Rees’ decision to use mostly close up shots drives home the idea that the characters are isolated from each other. During a scene where Alike and her family are eating dinner together, the camera zooms in on each of their faces respectively. During that scene, it was made clear that the the family was not communicating well; Arthur was clearly keeping secrets from Audrey, Alike felt like she couldn’t talk to anyone in her family about her sexuality, and Audrey seemed to prefer to act like everything was fine.
I think that this movie is appropriate for school because the sex scenes aren’t really that explicit and I’ve movies with more graphic scenes of sex and violence at school. I also think that the movie tackles important issues and I think that outweighs the risk of scarring students with scenes of a lesbian strip club. The scene where Audrey beats Alika is difficult to watch but it also isn’t the worst that I’ve seen at school.
1. I really enjoyed the entirety of this film. The characters were complex, and I found myself genuinely wanting to learn more about them. The cinematography contributed to most of my enjoyment of the movie. John mentioned earlier today how the shot progression throughout the movie, and I couldn’t agree more. The first three-fourths of the film was peppered with close ups of the character’s reactions. However, this trend is broken at the end of the film, most notably so on the final shot of the movie (which also happens to be the scene that struck me the most). Here, Alike commits to a major life change and is finally, for the first time, on her own. She is assaulted by a range of emotions, which we can only see through a medium shot that has sunlight co Stanton spilling into the lens. I loved this moment because it diverted from the normal way that we see emotions being portrayed in film; however, it still had the same effect in the audience.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with what Jordan says. The movie, in my opinion, is meant to use Alike’s story in order to personify a struggle that people across the world can relate to. It shows that finding one’s self is a universal battle that transcends our differences (race gender, sexual preference, etc.). I also believe that this film was created to make a commentary on sexuality on the black community; while this is not a classically told narrative, it is definitely a refreshing and a captivating one.
3. One of the best applications of the camera occurred throughout most of the movie. The camera did not move steadily during long shots, which (to me) gave the film an element of realism. It seems to complement the tone of the film, which shows that while being yourself may not always be easy, it is something that is necessary for all people. One of the most extreme examples of this tactic occurs after Alike storms out of Bina’s house near the end of the film. The camera shifts between different shots rapidly while also shaking violently. This moment alone personified the difficulties that Alike must endure in order to become comfortable with who she is.
4. In order to normalize the idea of lesbianism, I feel that audiences need to be as exposed as they can to the topic. I feel (and this May be a stretch) that Rees is trying early on to introduce the audience to something that they may not be comfortable watching. Perhaps this is preparing us for the rest of the film, where we are immersed into the world of a character that is much different from ours. So, like the club scene, I feel that all audiences should just look past the discomfort and look for the deeper meaning.
5. I would want to talk more about how lesbianism affects the black community. I realized that one of the main conflicts in movies such as this one is a struggle between sexual freedom and the religious beliefs of adults (mainly parents and elders). Perhaps this is simply because this topic concerns a community that I identify with, but personally, I would be really interested to delve into this idea.
1. I really do like the film because while it isn’t a happy jolly story, it also did not let the ending be defeatist. The ending was confusingly uplifting despite the sad situation between Alike and her mother in Alike’s statement that, “I am not broken I am free.” The scene that struck me was the morning scene at Bina’s house. It was extremely clear that something was wrong in the way that Bina was rapidly cleaning everything up and putting things away. When she said she wasn’t “gay gay” and just doing her thing it was painful to watch. What was most difficult to watch for me personally was when Bina asked Alike to wait as she hurried to the door. I was hoping for an apology but Bina wasn’t thinking of Alike in that moment and instead said something along the lines of, “You don’t have to tell anybody.” This was an awful betrayal of trust that Alike went through alone and the scene had emotions powerful enough to truly impact the audience.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with what Jordan that this is truly a coming-of-age film. While it can be described as a lesbian film or a black film, it is a far more accurate description to describe Pariah as a film in which Alike struggles to determine her identity and where she belongs. Even though the ending isn’t a complete resolution of belonging, she chooses to graduate early and start fresh, knowing she is no longer hiding herself.
3. This movie is very deliberate with its use of close shots. I think these close shots in Pariah convey, through powerful acting, the characters’ inner narrative even if they don’t explicitly say it. This relates to the question that John asked in class as to whether or not anyone feels they know Alike. I don’t think anyone answered yes. I believe this proves that through Rees’ use of close shots, we learn that there’s a lot more going on for these characters internally that neither the audience nor the fellow characters within the movie can fully understand.
4. Some of the scenes were shocking, but I think they were meant to be. Dee Rees is not holding back and doesn’t side step realistic situations and scenes. The film can make people uncomfortable but this memorable honesty makes the film very impactful and worth discussing which makes it (in my mind) appropriate for school.
5. I would want to talk about the relationship between the mother and daughter, because I know that her mother is not made out to be an evil character and that it is probably a lot more complicated. Specifically I wanted to compare this to the experience that Laura had with her mother.
It is so hard to choose just one moment because there were so many powerful and intense moments in this movie. I think that one moment that stayed with me was the scene where Alike interrupted Audrey and Arthur’s fight, and Audrey had just screamed, “She’s a nasty ass dyke.” Then Arthur turned to Alike and said, “Tell her, baby, tell her she’s wrong.” And then Alike stared at Arthur in silence. Then a while after, the fight progressed and Alike screamed, “There’s nothing wrong with me.” First off, I didn’t expect Alike to know that about herself, because I thought that she thought that there was something wrong with her. But in reality, she knew that about herself. Secondly, I just cannot imagine your own mother, someone who is supposed to love you and care for you so much, calling you a “nasty ass dyke” and shunning you just like a...wait for it...pariah. Even later on, when Alike came to visit her mother at work to ask her how she was doing, she said “I love you.” But her mother didn’t say it back, and that was just heartbreaking. It’s crazy to me how what she has been taught as being socially acceptable trumps the way that she interacts with someone she loves.
ReplyDeleteTo rephrase what Jordan said, I think this film is to some extent a lesbian film and a black film, but that’s not just what it is. Going off of yesterday’s blogpost, I think that, traditionally, black films have only announced the main character’s internal struggle but have not showed it. Pariah is one of those films that really shows the internal struggle of the main character. Like what John said in class today, “A few quick shots can show so much. It can reveal so much in a short amount of time.” And I agree with that. Even in terms of it being a lesbian film, it’s not just that. Alike’s like does not revolve around her just being a lesbian or just being black. There are so many factors that play into the conflict and how she reacts to her environment, and although it does include those elements, that not all what the film is about.
Before I read this, I didn’t even know what an independent film was, or where the word “indie” got its name from. But now that I’ve read multiple definitions of what “independent film” means, I know now. I liked the definition that John August talked about. To summarize, he said that an independent film is something that works against the studio, to change the status quo. I think that, in terms of this definition, Pariah is an independent film. As I have discussed in the previous paragraphs, it is not like the previous black films of the century or lesbian films that have been released before. It really is different from the status quo in that it does a very good job of portraying the internal struggle of the main character and her identity.
I understand why John would be worried about showing this film. I think that at first, I was so surprised and somewhat uncomfortable with this film because we had watched these black and white traditional films about honor, war, and glory and it was not like anything I have seen before. But I think it is appropriate for school because it exposes the audience to new terrain and being exposed to something you’re not traditionally exposed to can really broaden your horizons.
I would want to dig deeper into Alike’s emotional struggle with herself, and her relationship with her mother and her father. I think that it would be really beneficial to understand that. I would also really really like to talking about the part where Alike said, “I’m not running, I’m choosing.” I would like to discuss the aftermath of her choice to not live with her parents anymore and how this film differs from other black films and other lesbian films.
I enjoyed this movie, admittedly it was difficult to watch at times, the emotions the actor portrayed were so real and raw. This movie was definitely not light hearted but the message was very powerful and I am happy that Alike could get away from that phase of her life. The scene from today's viewing that stayed with me was when Alike was lying awake listening to her parents arguing and her sister crawls into bed with Alike and says that she accepts Alike. This really struck me, the two found support in each other and Alike finally knew she had family who would accept her as she is.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan that this film doesn't focus on just the race or sexuality of Alike but rather it's all encompassing by telling Alike’s coming of age story. Being black and being a lesbian certainly change the course of Pariah, but I don't necessarily think that they alone define it.
I like that the definition of independent film seems to be more real and raw, unlike studios who “need to round off the corners and soften the blows”. The blows in Pariah are delivered hard, little move to soften it. This allows the film to appear more real and less perfectly crafted to convey a message in a studio. The smaller budget is also a clear indicator of an independent film, clearly contrasting with that of Million Dollar Baby. The wide angle shots like the battle scene in Paths of Glory directly contrasts the up close and personal feel of the shots in Pariah.
This movie, while explicit at times did not strike me as something that should not be shown. There wasn't a focus on the raunchy parts, rather they worked to support the larger ideas. This movie follows a seventeen year old, who lives a different life than us, but it is still important to learn about struggles other teenagers are going through.
I would like to talk more about why the movie ended the way it did, and maybe how things would have gone had Alike not chosen to leave.
I liked the movie a lot more after seeing the whole thing than just the first part. I think that the questions I had from the first viewing were answered in the second. One scene that stuck with me was the scene where Alike goes to her mother's work and says something like “I love you Mom” and Audrey doesn't say it back even though it's her own daughter. I think this is a very important moment because it shows the disconnection between Alike and her mother that will be very hard to fix.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan because “coming of age” is a very broad topic but Pariah does fit in its parameters. I think that the lesbian and black film components just make this film that much more special because we hardly ever see films that have coming of age, lesbian, and black components all together in a single story. Every single time we watch a movie, we get asked “is this just a movie about boxing” or “is this just a movie about coming of age”, but I think that there is no need to categorize movies into one genre when most of them encompass the parts of a bunch of different genres and topics.
I think that the close shots in the film are used to show what the characters are thinking/feeling during the awkward pauses that occur naturally during the film. For example, when everyone is at the dinner table talking about prom and homecoming, Alike’s face is zoomed in on to show her discomfort in the topic they are discussing. I think that these shots are used frequently because the film focuses on such a sensitive topic for all of the characters who all have tough decisions and situations that they make and are in. I think especially, the shots focus on Alike because it shows the coming of age and the emotions that come with that.
I think that this movie, although it may have some inappropriate or questionable scenes, is fine to watch in high school. I think that the film presents the raw reality of growing up and having things not always go your way. I don't think the point of the movie is to be about strip clubs or sex, but more about the story of a girl growing up and trying to find where she belong and what path to take in her life. This corresponds directly to students who could be in a similar situation in high school so I think that the raunchy parts, though they may exaggerate, show the reality of growing up and the uncomfortableness of that.
I think that it would be interesting to talk about how Alike’s sister interacts with her parents and compare and contrast that with Alike’s experience.
After now having seen the entire film I really enjoyed it. Just from yesterday's viewing I was unsure if I was going to like where the film was going or if it was going to resolve in an interesting way, but seeing how it unfolded today really sold me on it. The scene that stuck with me the most out of the whole film had to be the screaming match between Alike and her parents. I really enjoyed how it seemed to be a three way battle and no one was on anyone's side. I loved watching the father struggle between his apparent love for his daughter and the constant beratement of her by his wife as well as by society. He struggled to overcome his inherent homophobia through his love for his daughter and that was extremely moving to me.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Jordan’s characterization of the film. While the story is told through the lens of a young black lesbian, I do think that this is a story many of us can relate to. Common themes of struggling against one’s parents ideals and trying to discern what one’s own identity is as a young person are extremely poignant and relatable to almost anyone, no matter their context.
I would say that Pariah is different from the films we have watched previously because the subject matter is modern and gritty. It focuses much more on the struggle of the individual, rather than on many characters and broad sweeping issues with the status quo. The examples I am thinking of are how we are given a case study on the horrors of how war is conducted and the arrogance with which lives are thrown away in Paths of Glory and the glaring issues with the dichotomy of the class system in Seven Samurai. Pariah focuses largely on a single character and her struggle to find her place in the world. While she is shaped by issues regarding her status, we don’t view the film as a piece wholly dedicated to breaking down the systems that have affected Alike, but one that prompts us to have more respect and empathy for individuals.
I would say that at any school that is not Paideia or any traditional school setting I would say that this film would be inappropriate. I get that that all of these films are meant to tackle tough issues and highlight real issues with life and the human experience, but this film was extremely realistic and at times very hard to watch. It was a bit surreal for me watching something like this in a classroom setting due to the fact that I would have reacted completely differently to it if I were watching it at home in the comfort of my own room, as I otherwise would with a movie of this subject matter.
The role of the father and the unique bond between him and Alike.
ReplyDelete1. For me, it was the scene when Laura meets with her mom. Laura has accomplished a lot, has her own place, and a GED. But she can’t get approval from her mother because of the way she is. It’s not like she even chose to be lesbian, it’s just a fact of her life. This made me realize how lucky I am, because I know my parents will (hopefully) love me unconditionally.
I would agree to a point. Yes, it is about a young girl coming of age; finding identity and belonging is something everyone struggles with to an extent, and for some it is more of an issue than others (Looking at y’all frat bros). The specific struggle Alike has to deal with is her sexuality, which her mother refuses to accept. So it may be about the lesbian experience, but, because of the universal truth of Alike’s struggle, anyone can enjoy it.
For me, Pariah is different in that the filmmakers did not have the resources to execute their vision in the most perfect, or easiest way.I find it ironic that it is called an independent film, because even if you can say whatever you want, you’re still constrained by budget. Thus, the directors had to come up with creative ways to show the emotions that Alike went through. In Seven Samurai, Kurosawa had the ability to create his own rain and mud to produce a dreary atmosphere. In the case of Pariah, Dee Rees picks a cloudy day to show Laura visiting her mother, and uses ominous, dark lighting when Audrey and Arthur are up at night, fighting. Similarly, Eastwood uses tons of extras changing “Mo cuishle” and a bright stadium lighting to convey triumph, triumph for Rees looks more like Alike talking to her father on the rooftop the sunset, and reading wonderful poetry as she starts her new life (I am broken, open). Both, in my opinion, convey a similar feeling, yet Pariah does so more creatively.
I think it was appropriate for school. Strippers, sex, dildos/strap-ons, ect exist in the real world, and school is supposed to prepare us for the real world. So why would showing a realistic portrayal of what someone might actually have to deal with not be appropriate. Additionally, there’s no nudity so i’m not sure if there’s an issue.
I really want to talk about Laura, and how her relationship with Alike changes throughout the movie. I want to listen to everyone else’s take on her, especially with that sc
After watching this film I believe I have a much better understanding of how it feels to not be able to explore your sexuality and be yourself in your own home. This film shows how lonely and terrifying it can be sometimes, especially when Alike's mother reacted to her coming out the way that she did. The scene where Alike's father immediately assumed she was talking about a boy really struck me, just because of how heartbroken and disappointed Alike must've felt when her father made that assumption.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree in that this film is about Alike learning that she cannot find true happiness in the arms of others. In the beginning of the film, Alike was only following the suggestions of Laura and she was miserable in finding love, happiness and sex. With Beena, Alike began to feel like she had found someone that truly understood her and could connect with her on a deep and compassionate level, unlike her parents and Laura(for the most part). However, Beena eventually turned on Alike when she lead her on only to tell Alike that she essentially did not mean much to her, regardless of her sexuality. This is how Alike realizes she must find happiness and confidence in herself.
In the beginning of the film, the cinematographer used many close up angles and gave the view very little room to breathe. The way the film shot almost had no sense of space, but in an intentional way. Alike's house felt especially small and confined, which even gave me a sense of claustrophobia. Towards the end of the film, however, we could see the characters in large wide shots with multiple people in it, rather than the average medium and close up in the beginning of the film.
I believe this film is very appropriate for a high school, but I think only upperclassmen. Although Pariah is very important for someone to see, I think the themes and messages would be best seen as a late-teen or even young adult. Some of my classmates and peers can miss the point of films like these and rather than leaning into the discomfort of these themes, they use humor or deprecation to deflect the realness of the movie.
I thought it was very messed up of Beena to treat Alike the way that she did. How could she try to kiss Alike first and act all into her and have sex with her all in a few days, and then turn around and act like she didn't care about Alike at all and that she was just another "experimental fling". This is so enfuriating because I see the same exact thing happen all of the time in other high school relationships and hookups like these.
1. One moment that stuck with me is when Bina and Alike are talking about their sexual encounter the night before. Alike really valued that encounter because it meant a lot to her. However, Bina just saw it as fooling around and didn’t mean anything. Bina keeps telling Alike that it didn’t mean anything and that she is not gay, highlighting the stigma around being gay. Alike then goes on a emotional rampage going back to her apartment because the one person who she thought accepted her turned her back on Alike. The fact that Bina was so oblivious to Alike’s internal suffering was what really made me mad. The last thing she said to Alike before Alike left was “Don’t tell anyone.” It makes homosexuality look like it’s a deviant thing, essentially shaming Alike.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, Yes and no. The movie’s main focus is the coming of age aspect, but the sexuality and race aspects are essential to the plot. The sexuality strengthens the conflict between Alike and her mother. Her dad doesn’t want to believe his own daughter is gay. On top of that, it highlights the struggle of what it is like to be gay in a black community. To say that this is a coming of age movie is saying that the theme of sexuality and race are kinda implied and in the background: the elements of sexuality and race are too essential to the plot say that it’s just a coming of age movie.
3. Non independent movies usually have big budgets and well known actors in them such as Million Dollar Baby with stars like Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. Independent movies have very underground actors and very low budgets. Independent films tend to be so much more authentic because their plots are usually more grounded. Not saying that sci-fi movies aren’t authentic, but the stories in indie movies are more real because they have to be due to budget. Indie films can’t pay for all these SFX so they have to go realism. Pariah is a such a real story that deals with themes of sexuality and race, which makes it different from non indie films.
4. I mean it’s just the first five minutes that is pretty raunchy. The rest of the film is pretty appropriate. Now if you were showing at a catholic school, that would an entirely different story. I could see why teachers wouldn’t want to see this movie, but teachers have shown much worse movies in their classroom than this in regards to violence. It is because we are so desensitized to violence that a kiss of two people of the same genders is worse than someone getting their head chopped off.
5. One thing that really upset me was when Audrey hit Alike because she was gay. Domestic abuse has always bothered me, especially between Kids and Parents. How could you do that your own child? I know it’s more complicated than that, but that is something that will forever bother me.
I really liked this movie. I liked how no character was just one thing. Like the dad wasn’t just ‘the good parent’ that was portrayed as a saint, he was also somebody who was probably cheating on his wife. The scene that stayed with me the most is when Audrey pretends to be asleep on the couch and the Arthur comes home and lies about how long he was home for. That one scene tells so much about their relationship; it shows that Audrey still tries, she dresses up for him and waites for him, while Arthur has given up, he doesn’t see their marriage as a marriage as something worth any positive energy.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree. I agree that it is a coming of age movie, but it is also both a black and lesbian movie. Her experience is so closely intertwined with her identity that it would be impossible to talk about this movie without acknowledging it. The conflict with her parents stems from her being a lesbian and her mother not able to accept it. The coming of age part comes in with everything else. The pitfalls of finding love and being rejected and the difficulty of finding who you are in highschool--what social group you belong to. But her rejection comes not because the person she likes simply doesn’t like her back, but from the fact that she claims she is straight. It is a coming of age film but her lesbianism adds a whole nother layer to it.
To use Tilda Swinton’s word, Pariah is more free than all of the other movie--meaning that is is not one genre or can be categorized as one thing. In a previous question we talk about how things movie could be considered a coming of age movie or a black movie or a lesbian movie, while the other movies can be more easily categorize; Million Dollar Baby, boxing and its repercussions, Wit, the meaning of life, Paths of Glory, war. Each movie portrays something that is not unfamiliar to the audience, the themes are not stigmatized, whether that is war (Paths of Glory) or fighting (Million Dollar baby) or death in general (Wit). All of these themes have been shown in movies over and over again since the beginning of film, but something that has not come up until more recent years is the gay experience, and more specifically the black gay experience. It is independent because it is free of the constraints that say what society will and will not want to watch. This movie deals with something that is heavily stigmatized. The most surprise and heartbreak faced in the previous movies mentioned are when Maggie dies (Million Dollar Baby) and when the soldiers are executed (Paths of Glory) but in Pariah everything was on unsure grounds. It was not possible to be completely certain about anybody or their reactions. Pariah felt more real than the other movies because nobody was predictable and there where questions left unanswered in almost every scene, it never really felt complete.
I do think that this movie is appropriate to show student our age. It may get a little iffy because we are in a school setting, but I know that my parents would have no issue with me watching this film or films like it. I believe that we are at an age where we are mature enough to handle topics like this, as they are a part of life and we need to recognize that sooner or later. I think it is beneficial to watch movies like this in school because we can thoroughly talk about what made us uncomfortable and talk about the topics in a free space.
I want to talk about Laura and how her own personal arch affected how she treated Alike. Like how at the beginning of the movie she wanted Alike to conform, but then after she visited her mother she realized that she needed to love and accept Alike for who she is.
I loved this movie. I thought it was really interesting how they were able to show the insecurities and problems of so many different characters in such a short amount of time. It made it seem more real, instead of having the stable parents with prejudice, and then the daughter going through growing pains like a lot of movies would. This movie showed that everyone goes through problems and struggles. The scene on the balcony between Aliké and her father stuck with me. It was a beautiful scene. The bright colors, New York fall.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a coming of age film. Like I said on the last blog. This is a film about life. A lot of life is figuring out how to fit in or not fit in various pre determined societal groups. And this is an honest portrayal of how a young black lesbian woman who does not fit in with blacks, which we see through her fathers confrontations at the store, does not fit in with Lesbians, which we see through her experience at the strip club, and can not even fit in at her own home due to her mothers christianity, can navigate the hardships of growing up.
I liked how the camera was used during Alikés last moment with her mother. It showed the mother sitting down and then we could not see Aliké until she sat down. It zoomed in on each of their faces to show the raw emotion of the moment. I really liked how the camera would zoom in on the faces, the actors were great so we really got to feel what they were feeling through the facial expressions.
I think it is fine for our class. We are 17 and 18 year olds, its obviously a little awkward to see that in class, but we can handle it. In some ways it is actually a very important film to show in school. It is a true look at what it is like to live and grow up, and for a school that values diversity and being different, seeing Alikés story could be very important and inspiring for people struggling with not fitting in.
I would be interested in talking about the development of supporting characters such as the parents and
I really loved this movie for so many reasons. I think it definitely had quite a bit going for it, especially being an independent film and thus having a small budget. As for the scene or moment that stuck with me the most, its hard to forget when Alike is forced to come out to her parents and they refuse to accept her. It is a really emotional and powerful scene, and one that is hard to watch. It is an incredibly heartbreaking thing to see a child whose parents refuse to accept her for who she is, especially to the point of physical violence. What really hit me hard was that after the fight, when Alike goes to visit her mom at work and still has the large cut on her face from where her mother struck her, Alike's mom still looked down on her daughter as an abomination rather than her own child whom she had loved and cared for for 17 years.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with Jordan because Pariah doesn't just tell the story from a single angle, but combines a number of different elements which not only give the story line immense depth, but also multiple aspects in which audience members can relate to. I would absolutely say that this is a coming of age film.
The most obvious answer to this question would be the budget. Pariah was made on an incredibly small budget whereas some of the other films we've watched such as Paths of Glory and Seven Samurai cost millions of dollars to make. This is not just about how much went into the film, but what came out of it as a result. The film's small budget allowed, or even forced, Rees to get creative in the directing style, cinematography, and many other aspects of the movie. I think that the result of Pariah's small budget makes it so much better because somehow the story just feels more true that way.
I think there's a big distinction to be made between most high schools and Paideia; I'm pretty sure a lot of the things we watch, do, and discuss could be considered "unorthodox". That being said, it is my personal belief that keeping high school students from seeing certain films or certain reading books because of their 'explicit' content really doesn't solve anything. At the end of the day, kids will find a way to watch or read what they want to, and I think it is much better to show and analyze these films and books as a class based off of their educational and intellectual value rather than keep good literature and film under lock and key because a teacher has deemed their contents inappropriate. I don't think Pariah was too raunchy or inappropriate for most high school students, especially at Paideia, and I think that it is a wonderful thing that the school allows us to view and discuss these things without worrying about the 'negative impact it may have on the youth'. Besides, Pariah, and many films and books like it, is not about strip clubs and R-rated content, but about a powerful story that provokes thought and discussion.
I would definitely like to talk about the ending of the movie and how Alike's mother never accepted her for who she is. I can only imagine how painful that must be for a teenager who is still discovering who they are. Alike's strength throughout the film is unavoidable and undeniable, and her family dynamics play an interesting role in not only the plot of the film, but the development of Alike's character as well.
I ended up liking Pariah more than I thought I would, especially the somewhat documentary-style filming. Everything about this film, from camera angles to emotions, is so real. When Alike is sitting beside her father in the car, it feels like we are there with them because of the backseat placing of the camera. This intimate position shows the audience their conversation from a realistic angle. The scene that I have been especially reminiscing over is when Alike is hysterical in her room after being dismissed by Bina. The scene is incredibly painful, and it feels like the audience can feel her agony. As Alike tears apart her room and her own clothes it becomes blatant that she has been stripped of her sense of self. Also, the shakiness of the camera places us right in Alike’s room and I almost wanted to reach out to her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan. Like Nelson George discusses in the video from the last blog, Pariah isn’t about Alike’s identity, its about her growth and how that identity affects it. Of course, those parts of her, being a black, lesbian woman, are major influencers on her life, but this film is really about how Alike navigates growing up and how those identities shape her journey.
The main difference between Pariah and the other films we have watched is the intimacy. In this movie, the audience gets a deeply personal look into a young woman’s life that we do not see in Million Dollar Baby or Seven Samurai. With Alike, the audience experiences her emotions with her and ends up feeling a stronger feeling of connection to the characters. With the camera, close up angles and shaky movements place viewers right in the scene, making it a more personal and realistic experience. In Million Dollar Baby, the audience views Maggie’s boxing matches from in the air above the ring: a great shot, but not at all personal. As for Seven Samurai, the constant action does not allow much room for an intimate audience-character relationship. Moreover, a difference between Pariah and the other two movies is in dialogue. All of the character dialogue in Seven Samurai and Million Dollar Baby (not that it has a negative impact) is scripted while in Pariah the characters make verbal mistakes, they stutter, and they get confused. When Audrey converses with a coworker during her lunch break, she is asked about a shopping bag next to her, to which she responds, “oh, no. Just some yogurt. Some vanilla yogurt.” Audrey quickly recovers from this mistake, but it is a means of humanizing their discussion.
I think this film is appropriate for a school audience, especially for the upperclassmen. As young adults, it is important that we are not sheltered from content such as that of Pariah because sheltering gives a negative connotation to it’s themes. Also, I agree with my peers that this film is centered around people our age so we should be mature enough to watch it.
I would like to discuss Arthur and his relationship with Alike. On one hand, he shows her love and support when her mother will not, but on the other hand, he can't seem to accept Alike’s sexuality and even denies it.
1. Your reaction to the film now that you've seen the whole thing? What scene or moment stayed with you from today's viewing—and why?
ReplyDeleteI really liked this film. I think the scene where Alike’s sister tells her that her sexuality doesn't matter to her. I think that's something that is extremely important to Alike, because she doesn't have much support from the rest of her family. That scene reminded me of me and my brother.
2. Today in 5th period, Jordan said—and I'm badly paraphrasing—that this isn't a lesbian film or a black film but a coming-of-age film. Do you agree or disagree—or wish to revise what Jordan said? Explain your answer.
I agree, but why can't it be all three? I think that discovering and acknowledging sexuality and race and learning about who you are is part of coming of age.
3. For 5th period to answer. Several of you—and some in 5th period—said that this was the first independent film you had ever seen. Read this definition of independent film. Stating that everything we've seen up to now are not independent films, what makes Pariah different from them—and thus an independent film? Use a detail from two of the films we've watched in your answer. Do not simply repeat what someone before you has said.
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4. Aaren wrote yesterday that "when the movie started, I was really shocked because I could not fathom that a teacher would show a movie this raunchy. The first couple minutes were literally in a strip club so the viewer knew that the tone of the film was pretty unorthodox for a high school." I had my worries about showing this for the very reasons Aaren brought up. Do you think this film is appropriate for school? Write 3-4 sentences please. You can, of course, write more.
I think this isn't something you would show a little kid, but were juniors and seniors. I think we can handle it and honestly if people can look past the first few minutes of the movie, they'll realize there's so many messages being shared. I think this movie as a whole is actually really good for high school students to see because it 1) helps us realize that no matter what sexuality, religion, politics, race, etc. that we are, were all human and were all okay (she talks about how God doesn't make mistakes). That's just something that I personally believe in very strongly. And 2) this movie also helps us put ourselves in other people's shoes. It's educational and it also teaches many of us to not take what we have for granted.
5. What's one thing you would want to talk about concerning this movie?
I would want to talk about the roles of Alike’s family and how they all differ from each other.
1. After watching it in its entirety, I really enjoyed the film. I liked how real and raw everything was. Nothing was sugar coated or made to look like something it wasn’t. Even in the end, when a lot of movies might have a happy ending, her mother doesn’t accept her. It is kind of freeing in the end, but not exactly happy. The scene that stuck with me was when Alike is hit by her mother. It was pretty hard to watch, and it really stuck with me.
ReplyDelete2. I don’t think this movie is just a lesbian or a black film. I would definitely agree that it is a coming of age story that has a lesbian story and a black story mixed in. Those are big parts of it, but, in its totality, it is a coming of age story. Alike goes through a huge transformation throughout the movie which is the whole idea of a coming of age story.
3. Rees uses a lot of close up shots especially when something intense/sad/important is happening. For example, when Alike was crying in Lee’s arms after her mom hit her, there was a fairly long close up shot of her crying and the cut that her mom left her with. It is affective when trying to get how Alike is feeling across.
4. I think that this movie was really good, but it was kind of raunchy for a school setting. To be honest though, Paideia is kind of loose with that stuff, so it’s not that crazy for out school, but I think in some other school, it wouldn’t be watched. It’s kind of like when you’re watching a tv show with your parents, and a sex scene comes on and everyone is just extremely uncomfortable.
5. I would want to talk about the ending. I didn’t think it would end the way it did. I didn’t expect for her to go to a college writing program far away. I assumed that maybe she’d live with Lee for awhile and kind of go down the same path that Lee when down. Alike did something completely different.
Today we finished the movie and after having 24 hours to let the first part of Pariah set in, I feel a lot more comfortable with the mood that the film exudes. As time passes, the color schemes of the shots become warmer and less overbearing when you compare it to the first scene in the lesbian bar/club. My favorite scene from today was on the roof when Alike's father Arthur tries to make amends with his daughter. I feel like this was the real cornerstone of the film because it framed Arthur and Alike's relationship in a better light than what the viewer had initially perceived it to be.
ReplyDeleteI talked about this in my blog yesterday, but I never thought of this film as a representation of how black families respond to their gay or lesbian children. I took Pariah merely as an expression of what Dee Rees has either witnessed or heard about in the community that she grew up in or is living in now. New York itself is known as one of the most diverse places in the world so the director and writer could believably have made the cast white, Jewish, Chinese, Catholic, Hispanic, or any culture that has its own little niche in the city.
In 6th period, we talked a lot about how the director used close ups to get across a feelings of intensity and other strong emotions. During the scene that implied that Bina and Alike were going to have sex, Rees decided to only show their bodies instead of the facial expressions. The viewer mostly witnessed the slow movements of their hands as the two girls became more intimately involved. I think that this creative choice superbly captured the short scene that was focused on movement more than dialogue.
Personally, I wouldn’t be comfortable showing this movie to a bunch of teenagers in public school, not because it introduces foreign concepts, but because I wouldn’t want to deal with the possible backlash that I might get from parents. This is something that I actually do want to talk about in class? What are the limits of what teachers can expose their students to?
I loved this film. I thought it was very moving and gave a different view to multiple themes usually portrayed in very different ways than Pariah presented it. What stuck with me from the viewing today was when Alike’s mother beat her, and her father later apologized to Alike for letting her mother hurt her, and asked for her forgiveness. Usually in films like this it’s the mother who stands speechless and the father or male figure who gets aggressive. This atmosphere can be common in black families and the stigma around that is that, whether correct or not, is that black parents are often more physical with their children in terms of discipline. The film was not inaccurate in that way, but it is rare that we see a mother beating their child while he father tries to pull her away.
ReplyDeleteI agree in saying this film is not just a lesbian or black film. The storyline and conflict within the movie goes beyond the surface of what movies usually portray, films about black struggles or gay struggles or sports storylines. This isn’t about just one. This movie presents the story of a minority within a minority. And yet it’s still not a black movie or a lesbian movie. It is a coming of age movie that uses a black lesbian to display growth and maturity.
What technically makes this an independent film is some of the logistics behind the making of it. But this story is independent in a way that is was written and created as a story, not something to please audiences. A movie pitch like this may not have made the cut in hollywood. It didn’t have the heart wrenching fall of Maggie’s sports carrier and wasn’t centered around violence and warfare like paths of glory was. The storyline might have never been given a cent to its production. But a story such as this needed to be told and Rees knew that, so she made it happen through herself and the individuals involved in any aspect of the film.
I think this movie is very appropriate for school, but at the same time something that would often be debated. In terms of graphics, we see people dancing on each other in strip clubs and we know when characters have sex. But I think really the most graphic thing shown in the movie is the strap on Alike gets and then throws out towards the beginning of the movie. To me, there’s nothing that’s visually inappropriate for school viewing. I think what can be heavily debated, probably more common at public schools, is that the film encourages, portrays, and supports a lesbian character. Even at private schools some teachers shy away from topics such as these, but I’m glad that you showed us this and that we will have a chance to discuss it in class.
There are two things I’d like to talk about. One is I’d like to look into about this movie is the treatment Alike gets at home from her family and from Laura and the judgment she sees everyone giving her, and the fact that she writes the way she does. What’s the connection there? How and why does writing help Alike and how come writing is so often an outlet for people struggling in their home or other aspects of life. The second is how Bina’s character changed so suddenly within ten minutes of the movie starting with their kiss, and ending with her telling Alike not to tell anyone. What do we think her motives really are?
1. I didn’t really like the movie after seeing the whole thing I was never really interested. It wasn’t my type of movie but it had a message behind it that should be heard more. And I scene that stuck with me was when she said that she wasn’t running but that she was choosing. At first I saw it clearly as her running but when she said that I saw what she was saying.
ReplyDelete2. I disagree because they movie is clearly showing the life of a girl who is a lesbain and her mother doesn’t except her. This is how the whole movie goes on because all of the conflict is about her being something her mother doesn’t want/ what she believes god doesn’t want. And it’s one of the reasons why her father and mother fought the night she was hit.
3. The camera made it feel like there was walls all around her and it was very uncomfortable becasue everything was so close up. And when she was alone on top of the roof she felt free or without anyone pressuring her and we saw a wider picture which made it seem like she could breathe freely for one of the first times in the film without the camera resting on her face.
4. It did have some scenes that were a little inappropriate for high school but this is paideia and we kind of have a reputation of doing things other schools don’t have the freedom of showing and doing. But yes this movie did have somethings that made me either feel weird or just look around the room to see if I wasn’t the only one feeling awkward more than paideia normal.
5. I would think about talking about the struggle and feelings he felt when she chose to leave her home.
ReplyDeleteAs I had said before, this is my favorite movie we’ve seen in this class so far. I love the camera shots. I think keeping everything so tight shows the kind of trapped that Alike probably feels. I think a scene that stayed with me was the morning after Alike slept over at Bina’s house. While I get the feeling that many people think she is mean, i feel bad for Bina after this scene. I don’t think it was okay for Bina to play with Alike’s feelings, but I see Bina as someone who is scared to come out of the closet. While Alike has Laura, Bina doesn’t have anyone to turn to.
I agree. I think it’s very universal. I think if it was only those kinds of films it would be harder for a straight white person to connect to it. There are several moment in the movie that have to do specifically with being gay, but more than that i think she is trying to figure out the kind of person she wants to be. This movie, to me, isnt Alike trying to figure out what kind of lesbian to be, but rather her growing up and standing strong. This is a movie about her figuring out what kind of person she is and what she wants.
I think especially the first scene was very out there. I’m not positive if that’s something a Hollywood movie would have done. Another thing I noticed throughout this whole movie is that everything is held very close with close ups, not only to emphasize the trapped Alike feels, but also because of the low budget. There weren’t any really big costs to renting out a big place like the boxing gym in Million Dollar baby because you wouldn’t really see that extra setting.
I had the same feeling on Friday when we started it. I think if you get past the first scene, Pariah is a great movie with an amazing story. I thought about if you could skip the first part, but it’s important to the rest of the movie. I think it’s a very interesting choice for the director to make to start the movie like this, and it’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’s important to the movie. Alike is uncomfortable as well. I really like the movie and I think it would be a shame if upcoming classes wouldn’t be able to watch it.
I would love to talk about Bina because i think she has a very important story that we are only able to see a little bit of.
I ended up enjoying watching this movie. It gave a very intimate portrayal of Alike and the way she sees the world around her. At first, I agree with John when he said that we really did not really know her. However, I think through the relationships with her family and her friends we begin to learn a lot more about her. I liked the way that the film was shot because at times it just seemed like we were watching a true depiction of her life, without it being scripted and planned. One scene that stuck with me was was after Alike has come home from Bina’s house and she is hysterical, throwing her room apart and running around. It stuck with me because it felt like she was finally letting loose and realizing that something in her life needs to change.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Jordans comment. Because although Alike was a black and lesbian character, I don’t think that was what the movie was centered around. I think it was about self acceptance, the relationships with her family and friends, and the dynamics within her family. I think it was about the journey from her being completely uncomfortable with herself at the beginning, to slowly progressing to being able to face her mother and go off on her own.
One specific example of the close up shot being particularly effective I think is when Alike father is coming very late and the shot switches to Audrey who is lying wide awake in her bed. It was obvious that she was awake, waiting up for him. I think that this shot adds to illustrating the tension between Arthur and Audrey in their marriage. The wider shot at the end up of Alike on the bus, moving away from her family and her life I think was also effective. Rather than showing a close up shot, it was a wider angle showing the context of where she is and the people surrounding her.
The movie was definitely not one that some teachers would play in other schools, but I think it was completely appropriate for juniors and seniors. Although most of us probably don’t go to the same places to hang out that Alike does, this movie really does show a reality for teenagers. The idea of feeling lost when it comes to friends, family and yourself is a universal theme, and I think this film did a really good job of portraying it.
I think discussing the relationship between the parents and the effect that it most likely has on Alike.
This movie was different from watch I usually watch, but I think it held so much more meaning in it. The movie is very raw and displays interactions and feelings simply how they are. In some larger hollywood films, a movie like this may seem less realistic or have too much fluff to lessen the blow of the intense topic. However, this film barely even seems like a movie with actors, it seems like there was a camera placed with a real family to record their story. I appreciated how the movie really looked into identity through many lenses and really faced it full on. It pulled together complex emotions such as pain, fear, honesty, and love from many characters, not just Alike. I also enjoyed the way it was filmed. It was very intimate cinematography in the sense that it drew the audience into the emotions of the characters by the use of focus and angles. The scene that stayed with me the most was the scene where Alike and Arthur were talking on the roof. In the conversation, you could sense the sorrow Arthur had about knowing Alike went through so much pain, but you also feel a sense of triumph from Alike. She finally knows what to do in her life and has the confidence to go out into the world as she is without fear of being torn down. I think she has recognized that her mother will never accept her as she is but that doesn’t mean she has to change.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think this film fits specifically into any of the boxes. It addresses so many topics and weaves them together to create an honest picture. It is a black, lesbian, and coming of age film all put into one. I think sometimes the movie industry works too hard to put films into categories to target certain audiences, but stories aren’t always going to be about one single thing. That makes things boring. You need layers of character development and depth by making a film about real life as its messy complex self, and that is what Pariah does. It attacks the story as it is without taking away any part of the narrative to make a film about one topic.
The way the movie was filmed makes it seem like a real story. The close up focuses and shots feel like they would be from someone’s eye who was in the room observing the interactions between characters. We discussed this in class, but a good example of this is the scene where Audrey is throwing out the plates of food she had saved night after night for Arthur. The camera follows the food to the trash can and is a bit shaky, which also helps convey the frantic emotion displayed by Audrey.
I think this movie is appropriate for high school. Although it started in a strip club, it was not graphic and I would hope our class would be mature enough to see it. Also, to be completely honest I think most of us have probably seen worse things by this age so I do not think it was anything out of the ordinary.