Justin Simien‘s “Dear White People” was one of the breakouts of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, earning the director a Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent — and tons of buzz.
The satirical comedy takes Hollywood to task for its portrayal of black characters in films like “The Help” and “The Butler,” following a group of socially aware black students attending a fictitious Ivy League university surrounded by white professors and fellow students.
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“Can we have movies with, you know, characters in them instead of stereotypes wrapped in Christian dogma?” is one of the totally justified questions the trailer asks of Hollywood. Apparently, “Gremlins” was really about suburban white fear of black culture. Who knew? This probably wouldn’t be so funny if there weren’t giant grains of truth not quite hidden right beneath the surface.
Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon P Bell, Kyle Gallner, Brittany Curran and Dennis Haysbert star. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions will release “Dear White People” on October 17.
