I didn’t like the opening scene even though intellectually I understood that Pariah was taking a journey with a teenager trying to discover her identity, but because one of the first routes, one that does NOT fit her, is that of the stereotypical adolescent boy straight out of Kids, a movie that I detested, it probably knocked the movie down a couple of notches than if it had begun with her beginning to transition back into her role as appropriate daughter while riding the bus. I didn’t understand many interesting elements: what was the underlying origin problem between the parents and what was the father up to when he wasn’t at home, especially with the men at the store. The movie did a great job showing how every aspect of life is a potential minefield & psychologically trying. Every actor did a magnificent job. A strong, unflinching first feature length film, but can’t say that it was a joy to watch; however, I am glad that it exists and hope that Dee Rees continues to be a trailblazer. I do wonder how much of my discomfort is based on my absolute rejection of stereotypically male behavior of reducing women to their body parts as reflected in the beginning of the movie and how much can be attributed to being an outsider looking at something that I am not as used to as gay male culture. I believe that it is largely the first, but until there are more fiction films featuring gay female characters, it is too early to tell. I am optimistic since I haven’t had the same problem with documentaries.