Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Billy Wonka (A) on November 01, 2014 at 17:02:19

BUT, if we do, he might ably say: "Black people, what do they want?"

Critics call this a dramedy and so do I. It is sly, funny, and sometimes provocative. In fact, it is too sophisticated for the imaginary Winchester College that serves as its stage. Winchester is a very traditional campus (Faber, anyone?) populated with rich legacies and a crop of young black people pursuing the prestige of a Winchester diploma. In the midst of this is a black anarchist named Sam White. Sam has her daily college radio program called "Dear White People" where she throws out curve balls and hard balls, damning the so-called racial situation of Winchester. The film follows all the main characters so that we may know their stories and backgrounds. Lionel is the gay guy with an abundant fro and a Caucasian spine, Sam is an anarchist without portfolio who has a white daddy, Troy is almost white thanks to daddy pushing him for success (Haysbert), Coco who wants to be a rich white girl and YouTube star, and Kurt who is the president's son and a handful of Caucasian privilege.

On the surface Sam seems to have a problem with Winchester changing its housing policies to "randomization" which means that white students were now being housed in the once all black dorm. Sam won't give up and her secret white boyfriend becomes frustrated in being hidden from her public life. There are so many things going on I will see it a second time to make sure I've got it.

So cleverly written that blacks laugh at certain times while caucs laugh at other times. Both of us hardly ever laughed together in my audience yet there seemed to be a comfortable balance to it. This film has its bones rooted in several racially-themed fraternity and sorority parties around the country. During the closing credits several photos of these parties where inserted and my Alma Mater was proudly included. Its climax is kicked off by the ever-retreating Lionel in a fit of racial indignation that causes quite a brawl. In the end, Kurt maintains his Cauc Privilege and the black dorm becomes segregated once again.

There's a lot to this film and I can't say it is so much a "message" film because most all of the black characters were far too white for reality just as all the caucs seemed uncouth and overbearing. I guess the writer was hoping for a morality play but got a slick dramedy instead.