Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Review: Pariah

Director Dee Rees's penetrating, heart-rending film tells the tale of a lost, directionless Brooklyn teen (Adepero Oduye) whose browbeating parents force her to hide her burgeoning sexuality, leaving her to work things out on the streets with questionable influences.

Brutally efficient dialogue and pitch-perfect performances keep the film riveting throughout. All facets of the film work in concert to make you feel the isolation and shame of the protagonist, as she searches for someone, anyone who can understand what she's enduring. Pariah sets a new standard for the coming-of-age genre.

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