Origin movie poster courtesy of Wikipedia
Origin is a 2023 film written and directed by Ava DuVernay, which is based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson as she writes her non-fiction book Caste: Origins of Our Discontents. Ms. Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, was asked by a publisher to write an article about the death of Trayvon Martin which would explore how racism played a major role in the incident. However, Ms. Wilkerson believed racism could not be the only reason. Why would a man of color, a Latino, pursue a black youth in an effort to protect a white neighborhood? Could there be other reasons beyond race? Wilkerson's quest to unearth answers to these questions took her on an adventure to locations in the United States, Germany and India. Her purpose was to find reasons for racial disharmony that goes beyond the simple answer of racism. Ms. Wilkerson's conclusion is that racism in the United States is a type of caste system. Let's discuss...
Origin is a biographical drama, as well as a beautiful story about life, family and grief. Ms. DuVernay did an excellent job of adapting a non-fiction book into a well-written narrative story with an emotional core. Her storytelling and direction seamlessly balance the emotional narrative with the historical facts. When Ms. Wilkerson travels to India, she meets Dalit scholars who explain to her the concept of the untouchables and the Indian caste system. Also, the film explores the contribution of The Deep South by Allison Davis, Burleigh B. Gardner, and Mary R. Gardner on her research.
You do not need to read Caste: Origins of Our Discontents to enjoy the film Origins. My theatre audience laughed, openly cried at emotional moments and clapped at the end of the movie. You will enjoy the experience.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ava_DuVernay