Pernell Walker Movies

A teenager must choose between the life she wants and the path her parents have picked out for her in this independent coming-of-age drama. At home, 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) is a sweet and soft-spoken girl who tries to follow the wishes of her straight-laced mother (Kim Wayans). However, there's another side of her that her parents don't know about -- Alike is a lesbian, and with her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker) she slips out to downtown dance clubs where she feels free to be open about her sexuality, though she's still working up the courage to act on her desires. As she becomes more mature, Alike is torn between living the sheltered life her parents want for her, the club-hopping lifestyle Laura has already embraced, or something that lies in between, like her neighbor Bina (Aasha Davis). Pariah was the first feature film from writer and director Dee Rees, who adapted the story from her award-winning short film of the same name. Pariah was an official selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi