‘Origin’ (2023) Review – We Really Need To Talk About Caste [TIFF 2023]

Ava DuVernay makes her long-awaited return to feature filmmaking to highlight the incredible journey of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson, in this blended drama that finally says what DuVernay has been wanting to say for a long time.

DuVernay came onto the scene tackling the tenets of the 13th amendment in her first critically acclaimed documentary, which broke down how that amendment repurposed slavery into prison labor. Later, she went after one of the most heinous cases in our history in When They See Us, a reenactment of the events that led to the arrest, imprisonment, and eventual exoneration of the Central Park 5. DuVernay had been taking on issues related to Black people from the beginning. Always dealing with injustice, racism, imperfect laws, and our place in the American system.

But with Origin, we are treated to the fullest, deepest analysis of caste systems we’ve ever seen put to film. The film is a blend of three very different genres. In many instances, it feels like it should be a documentary, especially with the number of reenactments that take place during the film. It also is a biopic about Isabel Wilkerson and the events that led her to write this all-encompassing book. It is also a narrative drama with a splendid cast delivering exceptional work. The combination of DuVernay’s artistic direction and directorial style makes this her most ambitious and boldest film yet.

Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor takes the helm as Isabel. She has written a book that has received acclaim and gotten her speaking engagements throughout the country. Shortly after the murder of Trayvon Martin (which we see hauntingly reenacted along with the actual recordings), she’s approached to write a story on it, which she initially refuses. After two tragic events in her own life between her mother and her husband (played by a solidly cast Jon Bernthal), Isabel decide to take on the assignment, but she wants to approach it a different way.

This takes us on an expedition that sees us go to both WWII-era and present-day Germany. It takes us through the days of slavery and segregation in America, and even to the most blatant and egregious example of caste in India. This thoughtful, eye-opening, and even sometimes laborious film breaks down where caste came from, how it continues to work to this day, and why it has to go.

The film has so many emotionally devastating moments throughout that it can begin to feel exhaustive and repetitive over its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime. It also doesn’t help that there’s a large monologue towards the end of the film done entirely in voiceover that begins to wane the longer it goes on, even though everything said in it needs to be said. That seems to be the case with much of this film. So much of it is necessary and it seems as though DuVernay is determined to get it all in there, no matter how much it balloons the runtime or exhausts the film. But at neither point do you feel as though what’s being done isn’t excellent.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is nothing short of spectacular in this role. In a film that boasts such a loaded subject matter, she matches that intensity with a ferocious presence and poise. It is a career-best performance and one that proves she can handle the weight of the lead and should be given more of it. Her chemistry with Jon Bernthal is pitch perfect as the two play a loving interracial couple struck by a sudden tragedy. Do not be surprised to hear Aunjanue’s name called again on Oscar morning.

And she may not be alone because also stunning in this film is Niecy Nash-Betts, who comes in with excellent comedic timing and a sincere emotional resonance that adds further weight to this film. Or perhaps even a single-scene nomination for Audra McDonald, whose few minutes of screen time is one of the most hard hitting and brilliantly done moments in any film so far this year.

Origin is a lot of movie, but its breakdown of the caste systems of India, America, and Germany is a vital story we desperately need. It is the first step to understanding these systems and fighting like hell to dismantle them. Ava DuVernay has finally made the movie she’s always wanted to make, and even though all the parts may not blend together perfectly, it may very well be one of the most important films of our lifetime.

Origin held its North American Premiere as part of the Gala Presentations section at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently expected to debut in theaters in late 2023 courtesy of NEON. 

Director: Ava DuVernay

Writer: Ava DuVernay

Rated: NR

Runtime: 130m