Pariah

R

Released Dec 28, 2011

1h 26m

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

95%

Tomatometer

124 Reviews

82%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike quietly embraces her identity and is looking for her first lover, but she wonders how much she can truly confide in her family, especially with her parents' marriage already strained. When Alike's mother presses her to befriend a colleague's daughter (Aasha Davis), Alike finds the gal to be a pleasant companion.

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Critics Consensus

Pulsing with authenticity and led by a stirring lead performance from Adepero Oduye, Pariah is a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees.

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Spectra Speaks

Autostraddle

The acting and directing create a winning combination for unlocking the most powerful tool in social change: empathy.

Jun 11, 2021

Full Review

Natalie

Autostraddle

Pariah was honed over seven years...and the film that results is a stunning achievement.

Jan 29, 2021

Full Review

Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

To me, a film that engenders that sort of hope and possibility is worth gas money, an $8 ticket, and a trip to the concession stand.

Jan 12, 2021

Full Review

Steve Cruz

OUT FRONT Magazine (Denver)

It is emotionally genuine, populated by believable characters, and driven by dialogue and music that is honest to its characters and their issues.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Rees, using her own background as a template, constructs the story of discovery and embracement while aware of the social constructs that prevent it from being a more open, accepting experience.

Feb 28, 2023

Full Review

Michael Cuby

them.

A sensitive coming-of-age tale guided by a career-making lead performance, Pariah is essential viewing.

Sep 26, 2022

Full Review

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Fong Kok Hoong F

Singled out as one of her favorite performances by Meryl Streep in her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for THE IRON LADY, Adepero Oduye definitely deserves the shout-out for her nuanced portrayal of a Black female teenager coming of age brazening parental disappointment and betrayal in Dee Rees' perceptive directorial debut.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

BeautyCosmetic O

2 Ep in.. so far so good, I wish they could be a little longer but ... the are good. so good, I want more!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

“I’m not running. I’m choosing…I am not broken. I am free”

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

creative u

Beautifully shot and acted film about a Black teenage girl exploring her sexuality and her gender expression in spite of those around her. Amazing performances from Adepero Oduye and Kim Wayans. This is one of those films that should get more love from the LGBTQ community, but much like other films that center the Black queer experience, like Moonlight and The Watermelon Woman, it's often times ignored, which is a shame.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Every once in a while, you come across a film that feels less like a movie and more like someone's story; Pariah is a great example of that. It is an amazing film that shines a spotlight on many of the struggles that LGBTQ+ teens and LGBTQ+ people in general face. This entire cast does an incredible job delivering exceptionally authentic performances. Speaking of authenticity, the camerawork gives the film a very real feel. On top of that, the dialogue feels organic and the top-notch performances contribute to that. It is clear that writer/director Dee Rees is a talent. As I mentioned, Pariah feels less like a movie and more like someone's story. What I mean by that is it doesn't feel like an artificial narrative that someone created; instead it feels like an experience that many teens have had to endure and, sadly, that is true. Pariah isn't just a great film, it is an important film. It's a film that highlights just how horrible and destructive homophobia is.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pariah is the story of a young black lesbian. I really enjoyed the movie. Ms. Oduye gave a very nuanced and subtle performance in her role. Also, it was interesting to contrast the story of Alike to that of her friend. This is a story that needed to be told. Recommended!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

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Dee Rees

Director

Adepero Oduye

Alike

Pernell Walker

Laura

Aasha Davis

Bina

Charles Parnell

Arthur

Sahra Mellesse

Sharonda

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Synopsis

Teenage Alike (Adepero Oduye) lives in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood with her parents (Charles Parnell, Kim Wayans) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse). A lesbian, Alike quietly embraces her identity and is looking for her first lover, but she wonders how much she can truly confide in her family, especially with her parents' marriage already strained. When Alike's mother presses her to befriend a colleague's daughter (Aasha Davis), Alike finds the gal to be a pleasant companion.

Director: Dee Rees
Producer: Nekisa Cooper
Screenwriter: Dee Rees
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Northstar, Pariah Films
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 28, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $758.1K
Runtime: 1h 26m

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