Origin

The movie deserves much credit for tackling a difficult and complex subject -- the role of race in relation to caste in subjugation and oppression.

The movie examines race in America and caste in India as well as the Holocaust in Germany. However, it fails to mention colonialism, which oppressed one half of the planet no less in the early years after World War 2. This is a serious omission.

Even during the discussion of caste in India, the colonial oppression of India by the British that lasted till 1947 is not addressed. And it might be added, the British took full advantage of the Caste system to consolidate their rule of the country.

Ava DuVernay's Origin isn't a conventional biopic. It's the story of Isabel Wilkerson's (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor's) intellectual journey as she writes her ground-breaking book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, published in 2020. We see Wilkerson grapple with personal loss while meticulously researching and weaving together the insidious threads of racism that bind seemingly disparate historical events-American slavery, the Holocaust, and India's caste system.

The film's greatest strength lies in its ambition. It tackles weighty themes without shying away from unflinching honesty. Brutal historical reenactments punctuate Wilkerson's personal journey, forcing us to confront the ugly truths about humanity's capacity for cruelty. This approach can feel jarring at times, but it undeniably leaves a mark.

Origin stumbles a bit in its execution. The narrative structure can be disjointed, jumping between timelines and locations. While this reflects Wilkerson's own intellectual process, it sometimes left me feeling a tad disoriented. The film also leans heavily on dialogue, with some scenes feeling overly didactic. Think history lesson, not edge-of-your-seat thriller.

That said, the acting is uniformly strong. Ellis-Taylor delivers a powerhouse performance, capturing Wilkerson's unwavering determination and vulnerability with equal measure. The supporting cast, including Connie Nielsen as a sceptical German intellectual, adds depth to the exploration of these complex issues.

Visually, Origin is mostly a muted affair. The colour changes for present, flashbacks, historical events, and fictionalised episodes. The camerawork is steady and unobtrusive, putting the focus squarely on the characters and their stories. The score, a blend of melancholic strings and understated percussion, complements the emotional weight of the film.

While Origin doesn't quite reach the heights of DuVernay's best work, it's still a compelling and thought-provoking film. It's a film that will stay with you, prompting reflection and perhaps even uncomfortable conversations.

Origin isn't easy to watch. It's a movie that demands your attention and confronts you with uncomfortable truths. But if you're up for a challenging and ultimately rewarding cinematic experience, then this film is worth your time. Just be prepared to grapple with some heavy material.

This movie is beautiful and powerful. It is biopic about the author of the book Caste - which is a nonfiction book about the Caste system and how it is still used today to dehumanize and subjugate people. As she writes and researches the book she makes discoveries along the way as she makes trips to Germany and India to dig into the connections between slavery in America, the people once called the "Untouchables" in India, and the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. It is hard to watch sometimes because it isn't afraid to out the acts of injustice right in your face. Is it subtle? No. Is it half documentary - sometimes with people writing on white boards while reading you sections of a book - yes. It's not a regular "movie" - it's something different than what you're used to. But if you're not moved by it I don't know what's wrong with you. It's like a biopic crossed with a documentary that isn't afraid to feel or sympathize.

Great movie but the author and/or director completely forgot or ignored the plight and treatment native Americans from them caste hypothesis/equation, Seriously!? Why?

I would think Native Americans should have given some sort acknowledgment from origin standpoint as they were first to be "casted" prior to African Americans.

I haven't read the book, but the movie does feel like abrupt in trying to connect and transition amongst different story lines or historical situations.

Then summarization in the end is just beautifully done. But movies felt too dense and compact in terms of content as the authors personal life events and challenges were being tried to intertwined hit socially and racial complexities.

This movie is so vital and so important and everyone needs to see it! It is so important to realize how connected all of us are!! How all of our issues and struggles and history are so similar! This movie is beautiful and brilliant and heartbreaking and honest! I hate that the world is this way! I hate that humanity has made the world this way. We could've had a better world. We could've had a loving and kind society and world. Everyone needs to see this movie and needs to read this book! Everything ia connected! Everything! I hope this movie is shown is classrooms and universities and on TV's all around the world!