Dear White People (2014)

Directed by: Justin Simien
Country: USA

Movie Review: Considering the recent happenings in the US regarding racial discrimination, especially involving white cops and black citizens, “Dear White People” can be seen as a courageous satire, sometimes provocative, yet not so meaningful or conclusive. Debutant director Justin Simien evinced some issues in terms of pace, struggling to make the film coming out of its torpor. The story follows four African-American students living at the campus of the predominantly ‘white’ Ivy League College, Winchester University. Sam White, Troy Fairbanks, Lionel Higgins and Coco Conners will lead a black riot when the white students decide to give a party whose theme is ‘African-Americans’. The surprises in the plot, instead of boosting the story, just increased the sensation of fabricated romances and multi-racial tension. The last twenty minutes stir some energy but there were never answers for the questions raised, while the characters seemed to be built in the most convenient way in order to accommodate Simien's pretensions. The humor was fine in several moments, aiming to catch American audiences who, most likely, will turn “Dear White People” into a local success. Taking into account the subject matter and genre, it’s almost inevitable a comparison with Spike Lee who, in my eyes and in spite of his recent lack of inspiration, would have made “Dear White People” a more gripping experience than it was. Justin Simien was awarded at Sundance, Palm Springs and Seattle film festivals.