Origin - Review | Venice 2023
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© Atsushi Nishijima / Array Filmworks
Directed by: Ava DuVernay
Written by: Ava DuVernay
Starring: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Connie Nielsen, Emily Yancy, Jasmine Cephas-Jones, Finn Wittrock, Victoria Pedretti, Isha Blaaker, Myles Frost
Runtime: 130 min
Synopsis: The remarkable life and work of Pulitzer Prize winning author Isabel Wilkerson as she investigates the genesis of injustice and uncovers a hidden truth that affects us all.
Editor's Note: Original review was written for FandomWire. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
Origin brilliantly transposes the pillars of caste from Isabel Wilkerson's book to the big screen through an incredibly revealing, genuinely fascinating narrative, despite becoming clear that the source material is better suited to a documentary. The exceptionally human performances of the entire cast, especially Aunjanue Ellis, compensate for some lack of balance between emotionally personal dialogues and weighty lectures. Impactful imagery and an extremely stirring score make the audiovisual experience even more captivating. It's not without issues, but it's one of the most important stories to watch/read this century.
