History Film / Pariah

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Creator/AdeperoOduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but hasn't come out, unlike her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother (Creator/KimWayans) and police officer father (Charles Parnell), although they have their suspicions.

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Creator/AdeperoOduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but hasn't come out, unlike her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother ([[Series/InLivingColor Kim Wayans]]) and police officer father (Charles Parnell), although they have their suspicions.

Alike's mother tells her to spend time with Bina (Aasha Davis), the daughter of a coworker, who she deems more appropriate than Laura. As Alike develops feelings for Bina, the stresses caused by her familial and other relationships eventually drive her to embrace the identity she's been trying to hide.

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Adepero Oduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but hasn't come out, unlike her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother ([[Series/InLivingColor Kim Wayans]]) and police officer father (Charles Parnell), although they have their suspicions.

* YourCheatingHeart: Arthur is pretty clearly having an affair.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Audrey refuses to accept Alike, but the rest of her family supports her and see her off to California, where she'll be attending a writing program and entering college early, more confident in herself and secure in her choices.]]

* GayAesop: While Alike is pretty comfortable in her own skin, she still faces discrimination from her community, particularly from her mother.

* ComingOutStory: A painfully realistic portrayal at that.

* NoBisexuals: Bina appears to be a LipstickLesbian, but insists she's not "''gay'' gay" and sees her encounter with Alike as harmless indulgence.
* PapaWolf: Arthur flips out when one of his friends mockingly suggests that Alike is a ButchLesbian and gets protective when said friend encounters her in public. [[spoiler:He also defends Alike against Audrey, albeit rather half-heartedly.]]

* TheirFirstTime: Alike loses her virginity to Bina,

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: A subplot involving Laura and her sister's financial struggles is briefly shown, but eventually dropped.

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* YourCheatingHeart: Arthur is pretty clearly having an affair

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Adepero Oduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but not as open about it as her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother ([[Series/InLivingColor Kim Wayans]]) and police officer father (Charles Parnell), although they have their suspicions.

* ButchLesbian: Laura. Alike to a lesser degree.
* ComingOfAgeStory
* ComingOutStory
* GayAesop - while Alike is pretty comfortable in her own skin, she still faces discrimination from her community
* {{Gayngst}} -
* HideYourLesbians: Obviously averted.
* LipstickLesbian: Bina, although she says she's not "''gay'' gay", and just "doing her thing".
* LoverAndBeloved: Laura and Alike.

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Adepero Oduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but not as open about it as her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother ([[InLivingColor Kim Wayans]]) and police officer father (Charles Parnell), although they have their suspicions.

* TheBechdelTest -passes as cast is almost all women. They discuss sexuality; family relationships.
* WhereEverybodyKnowsYourFlame: The lesbian club where Laura and Alike hang out.

*

* SchoolGirlLesbians: Alike and Bina.

* GayAesop
* {{Gayngst}}

* PapaWolf - Alike's father

* AcclaimedFlop: The movie was extremely well-received and won some awards but was more or less ignored by audiences.

* PapaWolf

''Pariah'' is a 2011 drama, written and directed by Dee Rees. It follows Alike (Adepero Oduye), a seventeen-year-old living in New York's Fort Greene neighborhood, as she struggles to establish a sexual identity. Alike ('Le' for short) is gay, but not as open about it as her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker). She especially avoids discussing it with her religious mother ([[InLivingColor Kim Wayans]]) and police officer father (Charles Parnell) to know yet, although they have their suspicions.