Pariah is a groundbreaking American lesbian film that portrays the coming-of-age journey of a Black teenager in Brooklyn. With its raw realism and deeply personal perspective, the film sheds light on identity, family conflict, and the courage to embrace one’s authentic self.
Alike, a 17-year-old Black teenager, lives with her parents and younger sister in Brooklyn. Quiet but determined, she has already accepted that she is gay. With the support of her best friend Laura, she begins searching for a girlfriend and navigating her identity. Balancing school, family expectations, and her own desires, Alike faces heartbreak, rejection, and self-discovery in equal measure.
A gifted student navigating her sexual identity and family expectations.
Adepero Oduye
Adepero Oduye received wide recognition for her breakout performance in Pariah. She has since appeared in 12 Years a Slave, When They See Us, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Alike’s supportive best friend who gives her strength to embrace her sexuality.
Pernell Walker
Walker is best known for her role in Pariah and continues to work in independent cinema and television.
Director
Dee Rees
An acclaimed African-American filmmaker, Rees based Pariah on her own short film of the same name. Her semi-autobiographical touch gives the film authenticity and emotional depth. She later directed Bessie (HBO) and the Oscar-nominated Mudbound (2017), further establishing her as a vital voice in queer and Black cinema.
Pariah Review
Review
Pariah is a tender yet powerful portrait of queer adolescence. Director Dee Rees, drawing on her own experiences, crafts a story that feels both intimate and universal. While the narrative follows familiar themes of family conflict, social stigma, and self-acceptance, its execution is raw, direct, and deeply affecting.
The film’s emotional core lies in Alike’s strained relationship with her mother—a performance so subtle and controlled that it cuts to the bone. What appears to be an ordinary family is quietly fractured: a father with secrets, a mother whose love is suffocating, and a daughter whose identity threatens their fragile balance. The confrontation—when Alike says, “I’m gay” and her mother lashes out—becomes the emotional breaking point of the film.
Ultimately, Pariah is a story of resilience. Alike refuses to live a lie, and her choice to step into independence marks both heartbreak and liberation. The film resonates as an inspiring depiction of queer self-acceptance within marginalized communities.
Pariah Information
Film Festival Recognition
🏆 Independent Spirit Awards (2012): John Cassavetes Award – Dee Rees / Nekisa Cooper
🌟 Independent Spirit Awards (2012): Best Female Lead (nom.) – Adepero Oduye
🎬 Gotham Awards (2011): Breakthrough Director – Dee Rees