In the past year there have been so many important films with underrepresented groups front and center. Not only is this significant due to casting, but it is also important for them to be mainstream movies. It’s not just a “black movie” or “Asian movie”. For example, Black Panther is a superhero movie with a nearly all black cast, something that was unheard of in an action or superhero film. As a black person it was extremely refreshing to see a movie with a mostly black cast that was not about slavery, the civil rights movement, or a Tyler Perry movie. Although those movements and movies are important to our history and arguably laid down the groundwork for more movies such as these, it is not our only story.
There are a few other movies that have come out recently with similar representation such as Crazy Rich Asians and Love, Simon. Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy with an entirely Asian cast. The movie respectfully displays Asian cultures, without mocking or ridiculing the countries or characters and is genuinely funny and heartwarming. The other movie that deserves recognition for its representation is Love, Simon, a coming of age story about a gay high school student finding his way in life. It’s a beloved genre with a fresh twist of inclusion and it is extremely touching and one of my personal favorite coming of age stories. Seeing movie genres such as superhero films, romantic comedies and coming of age stories, that typically only cater to white, straight people, prominently and proudly include underrepresented groups is so exciting for the industry and audiences alike.
Photo Credit Meethaha