Pariah

Writer/director Dee Rees breaks through with Pariah, a tender, semi-autobiographical coming-out tale. Closeted Brooklyn teen Alike (pronounced ā-lē-kā, played by Adepero Oduye, reprising her role from the film's source short) works a delicate balancing act. To her religious mother (Kim Wayans) and devoted, yet distant, father (Charles Parnell), she is a baby-tee-wearing daddy's girl with tomboy tendencies. With her out-and-proud best friend (Pernell Walker), Alike dons pristine baseball caps and oversized shirts to search for the perfect first girlfriend. But neither role satisfyingly suits Alike. So when an unexpected friendship with a mother-approved peer (Aasha Davis) offers the chance at a new identity, Alike begins a journey of self-discovery that's ultimately heartbreaking and inspiring. Though set in a gritty urban backdrop and packed with slang, Pariah is surprisingly inclusive, largely thanks to its scintillating soundtrack and Oduye's endearing screen presence. She's a revelation, drawing audiences in by gracefully unveiling this complex and guarded heroine in waves. To Rees' credit, this deftly developed character-driven drama is stacked with stellar performances and bolstered with strong storytelling that rejects overwrought melodrama in favor of a subtler approach that scores greater emotional resonance. Simply put, Pariah stands out for all the right reasons.