Pariah
*„I am not running. I am choosing.”
*
And I’m genuinely shaking because of how good this is.
Shattering, heartbreaking and ravishing, Pariah is, without a doubt, the best queer movie I have ever seen, and that is why this is going to be a longer review, listing EVERY single thing that I love and cherish about it, in detail.
Its cinematography is jaw dropping. It is not scared of playing with colors, which gives the whole film a dream-like atmosphere, and simply turns it into something that’s pleasant to look at (it somewhat reminds me of Moonlight). The soundtrack feels personal, and fits in excellently with every single scene, making it even more emotional than it already is.
Like I mentioned, it has a moony vibe, but it’s even more than that. Every shot feels unique and different, yet like a continuation of the same dream. It makes you feel like you’re IN the movie, experiencing the plot alongside the character.
Next, we have the splendid acting, which highlights how precisely and carefully the characters are written. Effusive in its modesty, touches you to the core, making you want to weep unstoppably. I never weeped though, the cries were silent, which is somehow even more painful.
Alike is designed for us to care about her, showing her loneliness in every way possible. Because even though she has a beautiful and deeply important connection with her friend, or sister, she never truly escapes her solitude, and it feels wretched. But her sadness isn’t the main part of who she is. She has ambitions, dreams, and goals, like we all do, and that reminds us that she is a depiction of a real person, with real experiences.
The presence of the side characters, may not seem like it, but it is extremely essential to the greatness of this film. And I mean every single one of them. Her mother, her dad, her sister, her teacher, even her dad's friends–they all represent different types of treatment that queer people experience during their lives. Her mom wants her to be somebody different, tries to change her and doesn’t accept the truth. That’s why (I think) she stubbornly calls her Lee throughout the film, while her dad corrects her and tells her to call her Alike.
Whew, I’ve been writing this review for about an hour, and I still haven’t even scratched the surface of why I love this so much. My only complaint is that people don’t talk about this masterpiece enough, or maybe even at all…