Directed by:
Justin SimienScreenplay:
Justin SimienCinematography:
Topher OsbornComposer:
Kathryn BosticCast:
Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Kyle Gallner, Dennis Haysbert, Brittany Curran, Lenne Klingaman, Teyonah Parris, Malcolm Barrett (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
The unexpected election of activist Samantha White (Tessa Thompson) as head of a traditionally black residence hall sets up a college campus culture war that challenges conventional notions of what it means to be black. While Sam leverages her notoriety as host of the provocative and polarizing radio show "Dear White People" to try to prevent the college from diversifying Armstrong Parker House, outgoing head-of-house Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P. Bell), son of the university's dean (Dennis Haysbert), defies his father's lofty expectations by applying to join the staff of Pastiche, the college's influential humor magazine. Lionel Higgins (Tyler James Williams), an Afro-sporting sci-fi geek, is recruited by the otherwise all-white student newspaper to go undercover and write about black culture—a subject he knows little about—while the aggressively assimilated Coco Conners (Teyonah Parris) tries to use the controversy on campus to carve out a career in reality TV. But no one at Winchester University is prepared for Pastiche's outrageous, ill-conceived annual Halloween party, with its "unleash your inner Negro" theme throwing oil on an already smoldering fire of resentment and misunderstanding. When the party descends into riotous mayhem, everyone must choose a side. (Roadside Attractions)
(more)Reviews (1)
This movie has interesting scenes, but it didn't click with me as a whole. It's like I constantly felt that it's the black characters who want to be different, not just in skin color, but simply to distance themselves from whites. I wouldn't mind this, it's their thing, but what bothers me more is that these are such episodic pieces that I prefer them individually.
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