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Dear White People

Country: USA, Language: English, 105 mins

  • Director: Justin Simien
  • Writer: Justin Simien
  • Producer: Stephanie Allain; Effie Brown

CGiii Comment

Race relations on a 'fictional' Ivy League campus...

The good news...Tyler Perry is nowhere to be seen.

The bad news...rather being a film, it comes over as a santimonious lecture with a Spike Lee bibliography - a carefully and smugly written diatribe that veers towards a few danger-points...but, sadly/gladly, always seems to swerve at the last minute - causing minimum offence to those easily offended.

Let's face it - a good kick in the nuts always gets noticed...this is a tap on the shin - when it should have been a crotch-cradling mindf**k.

Simien asks many - perhaps, too many - relevant questions - but, alas, answers none. He has much to say...but loses his way with errant subplots. Big-haired, gay Lionel, the most interesting character, gets lost in the many episodic contrivances. His issues with race, sexuality and identity were, surely, the mainstays behind the original story...shame, there was great potential.

Simien has produced a semi-decent debut. Our advice: Focus rather than sprawl.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

A social satire that follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where controversy breaks out over a popular but offensive black-face party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in acutely-not-post-racial America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world.

Cast & Characters

Kyle Gallner as Kurt;
Dennis Haysbert;
Tessa Thompson as Samantha White;
Tyler James Williams as Lionel Higgins;
Brittany Curran as Sophie Fletcher;
Malcolm Barrett as Helmut;
Teyonah Parris as Colandrea Conners;
Marque Richardson as Reggie Smith;
Brandon P Bell as Troy;
Ashley Blaine Featherson as Curls