What's immediately poignant about Pariah is that the story is told very naturally. The film follows
Alike, an African-American lesbian, as she struggles with her true personality
and the feminine girl her family wants her to be.
Pariah is a breath of
fresh air. Although everyone may not accept the film's topic, it doesn't change
the fact that young people today are learning how to be more comfortable with
their sexuality. Every scene was tastefully handled. It wasn't a matter of
exposing what "lesbian" is, but more how that intertwines with other people's
perspectives.
In any movie, the acting can make or break the film. Here, I
appreciate the somewhat unknowns giving their all to the story. Most of the
time, the actors used their facial expressions instead of words to make their
point. The simplicity of the script also sets the tone of the piece.
Again, what's important to stress is the natural way Pariah approached the topic. Really
anyone could relate to Alike's search for someone to love and a way to feel
comfortable with herself.
There's not a whole lot of action, but the film makes sure every
scene counts. Pariah will have you
immersed in Alike's world for the entire 84 minutes, which is not as short as
it sounds. Pariah is a great example
of a film that gets to the point, tells a worthwhile story, and creates an
enjoyable movie experience for the entire audience.
