Origin
Teaser poster
Directed byAva DuVernay
Written byAva DuVernay
Based onCaste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMatthew J. Lloyd
Edited bySpencer Averick
Music byKris Bowers
Production
company
Distributed byNeon
Release dates
  • September 6, 2023 (2023-09-06) (Venice)
  • December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08) (United States)
Running time
141 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$38 million[2]
Box office$117,063[3][4]

Origin is a 2023 American biographical drama film written and directed by Ava DuVernay. It is based on the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, which describes racism in the United States as an aspect of a caste system.

The film stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson, alongside Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash-Betts, Nick Offerman, and Blair Underwood.

Origin was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on September 6, 2023. It had a limited theatrical release by Neon on December 8, 2023, and is set to expand to a wide release on January 19, 2024.

Premise

Grappling with tremendous personal tragedy, writer Isabel Wilkerson sets herself on a path of global investigation and discovery as she writes Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Cast

Production

In October 2020, it was announced that Ava DuVernay would direct, write, and produce a film adaption of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents for Netflix.[7] After Netflix was no longer attached and other studios passed, DuVernay turned to financing from Ford Foundation, Emerson Collective and Pivotal Ventures, among others.[8] In January 2023, Aunjanue Ellis, Niecy Nash-Betts, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Nick Offerman and Connie Nielsen joined the cast of the film.[9][10] In February 2023, Audra McDonald, Myles Frost, Blair Underwood, Victoria Pedretti, Isha Blaaker, Finn Wittrock, Leonardo Nam and Donna Mills joined the cast of the film.[11][12]

Principal photography began in December 2022.[13] The film ends with New Zealand musician Stan Walker's song "I Am", which is sung bilingually in English and Māori.[14]

Release

Origin had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2023, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion award.[15][16][17] Prior to this, Neon acquired distribution rights to the film.[18] It also screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023.[19] It had a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles on December 8, 2023, and it will expand to a wide release on January 19, 2024.[20][21] The film is scheduled to be released in the UK by Black Bear Pictures on February 9, 2024.[1]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 98 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "A moving drama that's unafraid to ask big questions, Origin honors its source material with powerful performances in service of a deeply emotional story."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Black Reel Awards January 16, 2024 Outstanding Film Ava DuVernay and Paul Garnes Nominated [24]
Outstanding Director Ava DuVernay Nominated
Outstanding Screenplay Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performance Aunjanue Ellis Nominated
Outstanding Editing Spencer Averick Nominated
Gotham Awards 27 November 2023 Outstanding Lead Performance Aunjanue Ellis Nominated [25][26]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 15 November 2023 Best Original Song – Feature Film "I Am" – Stan Walker, Michael Fatkin, Vince Harder, Te Kanapu Anasta Nominated [27]
Venice International Film Festival 9 September 2023 Golden Lion Ava DuVernay Nominated [28]
Virginia Film Festival 29 October 2023 Audience Award – Narrative Feature Origin Won [29]
Visionary Award Ava DuVernay Won [30]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 10 December 2023 Best Adapted Screenplay Ava DuVernay Nominated [31]

References

  1. 1 2 "Origin (12A)". BBFC. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. Edgers, Geoff (December 4, 2023). "Budgets for 'prestige' films dried up. So Ava DuVernay found a new way". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  3. "Origin". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  4. "Origin". The Numbers. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Debruge, Peter (September 6, 2023). "Origin Review: Ava DuVernay's Monumental Look at Caste Frames America's Most Difficult Conversation". Variety. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gyarkye, Lovia (September 6, 2023). "Origin Review: Ava DuVernay and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Turn Isabel Wilkerson's Caste Into a Tender Love Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  7. N'Duka, Amanda (October 14, 2020). "Ava DuVernay Back In Director's Chair For 'Caste'; Netflix Adaptation Of Acclaimed Isabel Wilkerson's Best Seller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. Harris, Raquel 'Rocky' (December 6, 2023). "Ava DuVernay Recreated Nazi Book Burnings in Germany for 'Origin': 'Tens of Thousands of Books Were Burned". The Wrap. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  9. Jackson, Angelique (January 12, 2023). "Aunjanue Ellis to Star in Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Film Adaptation". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  10. Vlessing, Etan (January 26, 2023). "Niecy Nash, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga Join Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Film Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  11. D’Alessandro, Anthony (February 7, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Adds Audra McDonald & Myles Frost". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  12. Grobar, Matt (February 21, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Adds Blair Underwood, Victoria Pedretti, Finn Wittrock, Others". Deadline. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  13. Patten, Dominic (January 12, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Casts Oscar Nominee Aunjanue Ellis As Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  14. Tangcay, Jazz (November 27, 2023). "Māori Artist Stan Walker Releases Video for 'I Am' From Ava DuVernay's 'Origin'". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. "Biennale Cinema 2023 Venezia 80 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. June 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  16. "Origin". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  17. Tartaglione, Nancy (July 25, 2023). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Mann, Lanthimos, Fincher, DuVernay, Cooper, Besson, Coppola, Hamaguchi In Competition; Polanski, Allen, Anderson, Linklater Out Of Competition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  18. Goodfellow, Melanie (September 5, 2023). "Neon Snaps Up Worldwide Rights For Ava Duvernay's Origin Ahead Of Venice Premiere; Unveils First Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  19. "Orign". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  20. Davis, Clayton (October 19, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's Origin to Submit Stan Walker's Original Song I Am for Oscars". Variety. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  21. Knolle, Sharon (October 19, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Origin' Gets One-Week December Run in NY and LA Ahead of Wider Release". TheWrap. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  22. "Origin". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  23. "Origin". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  24. Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  25. Goldsmith, Jill (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'All of Us Strangers' Tops Movie List; Ryan Gosling Gets 'Barbie' Nom With Budget Caps Removed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  26. Davis, Clayton; Lang, Brent (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'All of Us Strangers' Leads With Four Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  27. Grein, Paul (November 2, 2023). "Songs From 'Barbie' Pace 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations (Full List)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  28. "Biennale Cinema 2023 | Venezia 80 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. June 26, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  29. "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  30. "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  31. Neglia, Matt (December 9, 2023). "The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
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