Subjects of Desire, a feature documentary debut from Canadian writer/director, Jennifer Holness, made its World Premier at 2021’s SXSW Film Festival. The film is a thought-provoking examination of the history of beauty and intersection of race and cultural standards of beauty. Educational and eye-opening, the doc dives deep into the appropriation of black beauty, the shift to embracing the black aesthetic, and the power behind it. SXSW 2021: ‘Subjects of Desire’ Review
The discussion is led by many insightful and fascinating young women, against the backdrop of the Miss Black America Pageant. Included in the dialogue are several of the pageant’s contestants, each celebrating and representing uniquely different images of blackness. From fuller figures, to fuller lips, natural hair, wigs and locks, to dark skin and light. And all of these ladies have three things in common – they are whip-smart, self-aware, and very much in love with the skin they are in. It is refreshing to see these young people discussing their opinions and experiences so eloquently. We often think of millennials as obsessed with their looks but these young ladies prove to be so much more.
Also weighing in on this powerful discussion are several well-versed academics, 2018’s Miss Black America Ryann Richardson and Afrocentric singer and four-time Grammy winner India.Arie, the author of the 2006 hit songs “I Am Not My Hair” and “Video.” Both songs speak of the perception of black beauty in music videos, the media and the community.
The film’s round-table discussions add voice to every black woman’s experience and frustration moving through the world in brown skin. The misconceptions concerning our sexual appetite, upbringing, or education. The unwanted gaze, the unwanted advances and violations of our brown skin, curvy figures or kinky curly hair. The project goes on to highlight the positive effect Michelle Obama had on black women, and the 2013 #blackgirlmagic movement as well as the attempt at an appropriation of that magic by Rachel Dolezal, the white woman who claimed to “identify” as black. It also dissects the pervasive images of the media, categorizing black women for centuries into three types – the harmless wise-cracking Mammy, (Like Mammy in Gone With The Wind) The hyper-sexual Jezebel (Coffey and Foxy Brown) and the Sapphire (or angry loud black woman, like Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son).
The documentary does a good job of breaking down from a historical and cultural standpoint, the plight of black women. It will be a conversation-starter, aiding those of other races in understanding the issues.
“I’m not the average girl from your video and I ain’t built like a supermodel but I learned to love myself unconditionally because I am a queen.” – India.Arie from the song “Video.”
Cast: Ryann Richardson, Seraiah Nicole, Alex Germain, Brittany Lewis
Director: Jennifer Holness
Producer: Jennifer Holness, Sudz Sutherland SXSW 2021: ‘Subjects of Desire’ Review
Screenwriter: Jennifer Holness
Cinematographer: Iris Ng, Ricardo Diaz
Editor: Lawrence Jackman
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