Origin | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ava DuVernay |
Written by | Ava DuVernay |
Based on | Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Matthew J. Lloyd |
Edited by | Spencer Averick |
Music by | Kris Bowers |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Neon |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 141 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Isabel Wilkerson[5]
- Jon Bernthal as Brett Hamilton, Isabel's husband[5]
- Niecy Nash-Betts as Marion Wilkerson, Isabel's cousin[6]
- Emily Yancy as Ruby Wilkerson, Isabel's mother[5]
- Finn Wittrock as August Landmesser[6]
- Victoria Pedretti as Irma Eckler[6]
- Jasmine Cephas Jones as Elizabeth Davis[6]
- Isha Blaaker as Allison Davis[6]
- Vera Farmiga as Kate
- Audra McDonald as Miss Hale
- Connie Nielsen as Sabine[5]
- Blair Underwood as Amari Selvan, Isabel's editor[5]
- Nick Offerman as Dave the Plumber[5]
- Stephanie March as Binky
- Myles Frost as Trayvon Martin[6]
- Suraj Yengde as himself[5]
- Donna Mills as Mrs. Copeland
- Jordan Lloyd as a friend
- Franz Hartwig as Erich Kastner
- Daniel Lommatzsch as Joseph Goebbels
- Gaurav J. Pathania as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar[5]
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 2 "Origin (12A)". BBFC. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Origin". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ "Origin". The Numbers. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- 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.
- 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Jackson, Angelique (January 12, 2023). "Aunjanue Ellis to Star in Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Film Adaptation". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ D’Alessandro, Anthony (February 7, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Adds Audra McDonald & Myles Frost". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (February 21, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Adds Blair Underwood, Victoria Pedretti, Finn Wittrock, Others". Deadline. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ↑ Patten, Dominic (January 12, 2023). "Ava DuVernay's 'Caste' Casts Oscar Nominee Aunjanue Ellis As Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (November 27, 2023). "Māori Artist Stan Walker Releases Video for 'I Am' From Ava DuVernay's 'Origin'". Variety. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2023 Venezia 80 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. June 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Origin". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Orign". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Origin". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ "Origin". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Davis, Clayton; Lang, Brent (October 24, 2023). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'All of Us Strangers' Leads With Four Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (November 2, 2023). "Songs From 'Barbie' Pace 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations (Full List)". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ "Biennale Cinema 2023 | Venezia 80 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. June 26, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 9, 2023). "The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2023.