Coming Of Age Stories: Pariah and Gun Hill Road

I don't know if I've ever posted about my love for coming of age stories (I'm too lazy to look through my archives *shrugs*) but just in case, it needs to be stated. They will always have a special place for me because I like reading or seeing some one's journey, which is probably why I used to devoured memoirs and autobiographies (not ones with "ghost writers" that seem to be around these days). Even if I can't directly relate to the young person's circumstances or struggle, I am a total voyeur.

The two films I'm interested in seeing are Pariah and Gun Hill Road, both films that are about young people of color, with different family backgrounds and gender and sexual identities.



I'm kicking myself for having had the opportunity to attend a screening of Pariah; although I couldn't because I had work (would have gladly traded spaces.)



Now, I heard about Gun Hill Road over a year ago when they were filming, because my cousins were actually in this movie lol. I meant to see this movie last weekend but something came up, and I'm hoping I can catch it before it leaves. I'm glad that these movies are getting played because honestly, I think these type of movies (dealing with folks of color, LGBTQ issues, etc) people write them off and think no one can relate to them. Although it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the this country (or even the world) is one monolithic group that all dance to the beat of the same drum.  Hollywood forgets we're not all heterosexual, cis-gendered white folks (or all in love with Tyler Perry movies). That's why indie movies rock--there's more room to tell different types of stories.

What do you guys think of the stories?*

*and just in case people need to this to be said: I will not tolerate any hateful ass comments. It's one thing to disagree, and another to be rude, shaming and disrespectful.*