the half of it (2020)
alice wu
issue 06
The Half of It is a queer coming-of-age film written and directed by Taiwanese-American director Alice Wu. It's a classic high school rom-com formula with a twist, and Wu masterfully tells a story of what it's like to be LGBTQ+ and Chinese in America, bringing attention to identities that have rarely been explored on screen. Though it never officially premiered due to the Tribeca Film Festival's postponement, The Half of It was released on Netflix and is available to view now!
roma (2018)
alfonso cuarón
issue 05
Roma is a beautiful semi-autobiographical drama film directed (and written, produced, shot, and co-edited) by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón. You may know him from his other widely acclaimed films, including Gravity and Y tu mamá también, but this film has been described as his most personal work yet. Roma tells the story of a family in 1970s Mexico City and its caretaker Cleo, a character whom he based on a similar figure from his childhood. The film's Oscar-winning cinematography and deeply personal touches make for an incredibly heartfelt and honest look into life in a different era.
okja (2017)
bong joon-ho
issue 04
Before South Korean director Bong Joon-ho took the world and the Oscars by storm with the brilliant 'Parasite', there was 'Okja'. At first glance, 'Okja' seems almost like a kid's movie, with its giant cuddly superpigs and colorful, idyllic cinematography. But in traditional Bong fashion, the film slowly unveils itself as a scathing social satire, this time inviting its viewers into a discussion about corporate responsibility and the ethics of meat consumption, among other issues. Its star-studded cast includes the likes of Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, and Lily Collins. The best part about this movie? It's available to stream on Netflix, so you can go watch it right now.
atlanta (2016-)
donald glover
issue 03
Atlanta is a comedy-drama television series created by & starring Donald Glover as Earnest "Earn" Marks, a Princeton dropout who attempts to "make it" in the Atlanta rap scene along with his cousin Alfred. Glover masterfully combines his eccentric humor with nuanced and timely observations for a unique viewing experience that is as thought-provoking as it is funny. Atlanta is a beautiful example of the kind of success and sheer complexity achievable for characters of color on cable television. These characters are three-dimensional, incredibly-written, and most of all: believable. They're a stark yet welcome change from the tokenization we've too often seen of Black characters in Hollywood, and just goes to show how much you can do with POCs at the creative epicenter of a big-budget network television show.
when they see us (2019)
ava duvernay
issue 02
In 1989 a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York’s Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. This limited series spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014. Co-written and directed by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Ava DuVernay, who provides an incredibly powerful and evocative look into the notorious case of the "Central Park Five" that forces the viewer to confront the realities of our broken criminal justice system. This is a show that has arguably never been more relevant or necessary. In addition to being beautifully filmed and acted, it serves as a harsh reminder of the way in which American has consistently failed—and continued to fail—people of color.
sorry to bother you (2018)
boots riley
issue 01
"In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, California, telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre
universe after he discovers a magical key that leads to material glory."
Easily one of the most absurd yet impactful films out there. Can best be described as Get Out meets acid trip meets
anti-capitalist propaganda? Boots Riley is able to touch on modern issues as complex as racism and gentrification in an
entirely fresh, chaotic, and hilarious way. Other casting gems include Steven Yeun (the guy whose death made everyone
stop watching The Walking Dead) and Armie Hammer, who plays a delightfully insane, coke-snorting executive that is in
every way the polar opposite of the Italian countryside-residing grad student that viewers might know him as.