Extra Credit Blog

Pariah is a underground type film about a young woman named Alike. Alike is a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents and younger sister in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood, and she is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the support of her best friend Laura, Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, she strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity -- sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward. I found this film to be a unique coming of age film; one not commonly seen in mainstream cinema. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it because I felt that her story was portrayed beautifully. I believe that her story is similar to what many young adults go through everyday. This film was a success in my eyes because it was relatable and touching. Alike is not black or lesbian. Alike is black and lesbian.