"Dear White People" is nearly two hours of people having conversations that none of us wants to have. That alone makes it worth watching.
The film doesn't always seem to deal realistically lwith racial stereotypes -- and stereotypes within stereotypes. But that doesn't keep "White People," a big hit at the Sundance Film Festival, from being entertaining and thought-provoking. It's funny, it's smart and it's purposely wince-inducing, raising questions about modern day race relations that few directors not named Spike Lee are brave enough to ask.
Tyler James Williams in ’Dear White People.’
Tyler James Williams in 'Dear White People.' (Ashley Nguyen/Roadside Attractions)
Writer and director Justin Simien's film deals with what's often referred to as institutionalized racism in the Obama era, as in, "No, racism didn't magically disappear because we elected a half-black man to be our president." He follows a group of black students finding their way at a predominantly white college, including firebrand radio DJ and activist Samantha White (Tessa Thompson). She rouses the ire of various students with her campus radio show titled "Dear White People," on which she reminds them of things like "the minimum requirement of black friends needed to not seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, but your weed man, Tyrone, does not count."
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Thompson is drawing comparisons to Lisa Bonet, not just because she resembles her, but because her role here is one that would've been perfect for Bonet a couple of decades ago. But Thompson more than holds her own, building her character into someone far more likable and nuanced by film's end.
Simien, in his first feature film, has succeeded in creating a band of similarly complex characters, many of whom have built-in (and not always realistic) culture clashes. Colandrea ("Mad Men's" Teyonah Parris) calls herself Coco, dreams of being a reality TV star and straddles the fence between embracing white and black culture. Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P Bell), comes from money, and his father (Dennis Haysbert) is the school's dean. But the film's deepest and most enjoyable character is Lionel Higgins (a great performance by Tyler James Williams), who's rejected by some circles because he's black and by others because he's gay.
Things heat up when a white frat decides to host a party at which white students are encouraged to show up as stereotypical black people. The reactions of the black students seem mixed -- a few (Coco especially) seem OK with it until the party starts, and she's waist-deep in unspeakable ugliness.
This is also about the time Williams' character finds himself, casting off his level-headedness to focus on -- yes, I'm saying it -- doing the right thing.
There are uncomfortable moments. Most are intentional, but others are the result of some over-the-top dialogue that is difficult to imagine anyone really speaking, but seems necessary for the movie's sake. The film will, of course, make some white people uncomfortable over the unflattering portrayals it delivers. What "Dear White People" illustrates, with its many evolving characters and story lines, is that issues of black and white are anything but. It will make some people squirm and might hurt some viewers' feelings, but it will likely make them laugh along the way. One way or another, it's a film that will prompt plenty of conversation on the way home.
Contact Tony Hicks at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/tonyhicks67.
'Dear White People'
* * *
Rating: R (language, sexual content, drug use)Cast: Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Brandon P Bell
Director: Justin Simien
Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes