Review: Origin

Official synopsis: The unspoken system that has shaped America and chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.

This is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's (played here by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) novel Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. I haven't read it, though this film made me immediately place a hold at my local library. We see some of Isabel's personal life, how she struggles to define her thoughts in the wake of Trayvon Martin's murder. We also see flashbacks to various eras while she forms her thesis. 

Ava DuVernay's latest is very ambitious. So much so that I'm not sure this medium wholly works to grasp the scope of what Isabel Wilkinson wrote. It's part movie, anchored by a brilliant performance from Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. And part video essay, summing up the pillars of Caste in an easily digestible way towards the end. This makes for a somewhat uneven watch. That is something I believe DuVernay recognizes. Other characters tell Isabel over time that they don't quite understand what she's getting it, and when we do get to the essay-like portion of the film, it's spelled out in a way that everyone could understand. Exactly what those closest to her asked for. 

This is a film that will make you think, and will likely make you want to read her novel if you haven't. I can see why this might be struggling a bit to gain an audience, but it's definitely worth the time.

Grade: B