But what’s most impressive is the amount of space Peoples’s black female characters inhabit in the narrative. Instead of just depicting the myriad ways black women carry their communities, the movie goes further to explore how these women and black girls support each other in a world that often fails them. Even during their tensest moments, Turquoise and Kai share kisses and knowing smiles, or play fight and cuddle, repeatedly underscoring the tenderness in their relationship. The movie also takes time to consider what it means to come of age as a black girl. They show that Kai’s present is just as worthy of a cause to fight for as her future.

Source: New York Times June 18, 2020 10:52 UTC