Cook review: ‘Origin’ is thoughtful film about what divides us
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
It’s almost, but not quite, a documentary.
It’s almost, but not quite, a feature film.
It’s impossible to categorize Ava DuVernay’s “Origin.” Based on Isabel Wilkerson’s best-selling book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” the film is complex and moving.
‘Origin’ (IMDb)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor portrays Wilkerson as she does research for her book that explores the caste system in the United States, Nazi Germany and India.
The slaying of Trayvon Martin (Myles Frost) is the catalyst for her idea about the exploration of why we treat others differently.
Instead of hearing Isabel talk about her research, we see it unfold before our eyes: A Jewish woman and a German man fall in love. A boy is not allowed to join his teammates in a pool.
A particularly welcome casting decision makes the movie even more compelling. Journalist Dhrubo Jyoti, who is based in New Delhi, plays Dhrubo Jyoti in a sequence that involves the Dalits, formerly known as “Untouchables,” in India.
Each reenactment is part of Wilkerson’s thesis about systems that turn people against each other. The film shifts back and forth between Wilkerson’s research and her personal life.
It’s an emotional movie that challenges audiences to consider why caste is part of humanity’s culture. The vignettes show us Wilkerson’s theories about injustice.
The last line of the book might be the most powerful of all: “A world without caste would set everyone free.” That summarizes Wilkerson’s ideas.
It’s a thoughtful, challenging film that encourages discussion about how, and why, people are divided. I’ve never seen anything remotely like it before – it’s a great idea about how to put great ideas on film.
3 ½ stars
Rated: PG-13 for racial slurs and other foul language, violence, grief, and other adult themes.
Running time: Two hours and 21 minutes.
At The Last Picture House, Davenport.
Watch the trailer here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
