American Fiction Film Review: Timely, Sublime Satirical Drama

American Fiction is a superb satirical tale of sterotypes gone awry

From the moment I saw the first trailer for American Fiction, I felt a connection. This was a movie I had to see as it tackles one of my personal pet peeve’s-Stereotypes, and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. Director Cord Jefferson makes his feature directorial debut with this adaptation of the 2001 novel ‘Erasure by Percival Everett and breathes serious energy into the story, assembling a great cast, including Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K.Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams and Adam Brody.

Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonious Ellison, known as ‘Monk ‘, to his family and very few friends. Monk is a gifted writer with a unique voice and strong ideas but is frustrated as there seems to be little interest for his writing or rather the topics he chooses to write about. Monk doesn’t believe that he should be limited to writing ‘black stories’, or what the literary world and general public deem to be black stories. He finds himself in the position of isolation, an outcast of sorts as he doesn’t understand why books and media which reduce Black people to caricatures and stereotypes are so popular.

Monk also has a strained relationship with his family, his aging mother is not well, with medical bills set to increase dramatically. He is estranged from his siblings who considered him the black sheep of the family for moving away from the family and not maintaining contact. One night out of frustration, he decides to write one of the books he so despises, with characters that fulfill every negative stereotype available.

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He sends this to his publisher as a sign of protest but in a turn of events, the book gets published under a pseudonym, is successful and stands to make him a lot of money. Monk is left with a tough choice to make, accept the accolades and money which is sorely needed for his mother’s care or stand by his principles, reveal the book was a bad joke gone too far and go back to square one

American Fiction is a fantastic satirical comedy. It’s funny, a bit quirky and importantly pokes fun at an establishment and society willing to accept subpar work and stories as it helps ease generational guilt they may be feeling over the lack of equity in society. They are prepared to do this as long as it fits into the pre-existing box of what black people are allowed to comment on- what they perceive to be ‘the black experience’.

Jeffrey Wright gives an excellent performance as the frustrated protagonist Monk, but the supporting cast are equally solid, with a special mention to Sterling K. Brown who plays Monk’s recently Out brother Clifford

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While I expect a certain amount of drama with my satire, I wasn’t expecting some of the more sad and serious moments in the film. Despite being a comedy, it had quite a solemn undertone which did leave me feeling a little cold upon its completion. Despite this, American Fiction is a fascinating comical idea moulded into a thoroughly enjoyable nuanced experience.

The topic of stereotypes has always been one quite close to my heart as I believe they are extremely harmful. Expecting a certain behaviour, reaction or view from someone based of their skin colour or country of birth is lazy, untrue and misleading. Even positive stereotypes are harmful as if you believe a Black person is super strong, only likes rap music and is good at sport, you are also likely to believe they are maybe not as intelligent and uncultured. When being detained by the police, they need extra force and more police officers because they are extra strong and even less pain killers when in hospital.

For attempting to shine a light on the false narrative and challenge stereotypes alone, I believe American Fiction deserves to be applauded. For also being an original, funny film with great performances, it deserves to be celebrated.