The title of Justin Simien’s provoca-comedy on its own hints at the tone we should expect from his award-winning chucklefest. Dear White People has already cleaned up on the festival circuit. After nabbing the Sundance Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent, the movie is making its way to the masses this month and today, a brand new red-band trailer has arrived to get you in the mood for a laugh in what’s normally a horror-infested month.
Taking place in a typical American college, the film explores the clashing of cultures, in a perfect blend of un-PC commentary. The trailer introduces us to the cast of characters, led by activist Samantha White, who all embark on a riotous journey that examines racism and stereotypes. All the while delivering a lot of choice laughs. The material walks a tricky line, as at the core of the matter is a topic that still demands attention, but Simien’s got a good idea of how to shed some light on it, and that’s through humour.
Dear White People opens in theatres on October 17th. Check out the plot summary below and the trailer above and let us know your thoughts.
The unexpected election of activist Samantha White (Tessa Thompson) as head of a traditionally black residence hall sets up a college campus culture war that challenges conventional notions of what it means to be black. While Sam leverages her notoriety as host of the provocative and polarizing radio show “Dear White People” to try to prevent the college from diversifying Armstrong Parker House, outgoing head-of-house Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P. Bell), son of the university’s dean (Dennis Haysbert), defies his father’s lofty expectations by applying to join the staff of Pastiche, the college’s influential humor magazine. Lionel Higgins (Tyler James Williams), an Afro-sporting sci-fi geek, is recruited by the otherwise all-white student newspaper to go undercover and write about black culture—a subject he knows little about—while the aggressively assimilated Coco Conners (Teyonah Parris) tries to use the controversy on campus to carve out a career in reality TV.
But no one at Winchester University is prepared for Pastiche’s outrageous, ill-conceived annual Halloween party, with its “unleash your inner Negro” theme throwing oil on an already smoldering fire of resentment and misunderstanding. When the party descends into riotous mayhem, everyone must choose a side.
