Director: Justin Simien
Cast: Tessa Thompson, Lionel Higgins, Brandon P Bell, Kyle Gallner, Dennis Haysbert, Marque Richardson, Justin Dobies
Running time: 100 minutes
Certificate: TBC
Synopsis: The lives of four black students at an Ivy League college converge after controversy breaks out due to the ill-conceived theme of the campus humor magazine’s annual Halloween party.
Film trailers are a funny business; you don’t want to be told too much yet you want an idea of the story, you don’t want everything the filmmakers have to offer but a sense of the tone is appreciated. Sometimes a trailer will increase your sense of anticipation, at other times a trailer could turn you on to a film you never knew existed. Unfortunately, on odd occasions, a trailer can completely mis-sell a product and DEAR WHITE PEOPLE is the latest unwelcome recipient of this honour.
Billed as a comedy, the trailer – and synopsis – suggest a hilarious satire on American racial politics. Based at the fictional Winchester University, Samantha White (Tessa Thompson) is a woman with an agenda. She hosts her own radio show, ‘Dear White People’, and is intent on bringing racial political issues to the forefront of the University’s attention. Except she’s not, not really. Pushed into the issues by long-time friend Reggie (Marque Richardson), Sam’s actually a closet Taylor Swift fan dating her class TA, Gabe (Justin Dobies) and isn’t really bothered about getting the issues heard. The result? The beginnings of some interesting ideas are presented, but then abandoned. After all, when your lead protagonist doesn’t believe in your arguments for the majority of the film, why should the audience?
Not being an actual comedy isn’t the worst thing that could have happened to the film, but when it lacks the heart or interest to become a drama instead it is left in no man’s land to flail. With a lack of intent and a few too many additional plot strands given a large proportion of screen time, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE doesn’t manage to dramatise the characters or storyline in any accomplished way. No real sense of urgency or determination allows for the pace to falter and interest to wane. This is writer/director Justin Simien’s first feature length screenplay and directorial work; perhaps focusing on one of the two may have allowed for a more focused edit for the final product.
Despite some fabulously witty quotes peppered throughout, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE is not the comedy its’ marketing suggests. Trouble is, it’s not really a drama either. Disappointing.
[usr=3]
Check Out All Our London Film Festival Coverage HERE!
