Based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, this journey follows one enslaved girl (Thuso Mbedu) thru her harrowing journey to find freedom. When she sees an actual locomotive in a tunnel, it becomes apparent that this story embraces some aspects of an alternate reality. The horrifying and harrowing brutalism is unquestionably real, but it becomes less physical and more mental after the first 3 chapters (if you stomach it that far). While all of the performances are deeply compelling, Mbedu (a South African in her first US role) is continuously astonishing and profoundly heartbreaking. Director Barry Jenkins has fashioned a masterpiece of filmmaking with grand imagery and stunningly gorgeous, sometimes painterly cinematography by James Laxton (who also shot Jenkins’ Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk). Jenkins’ style also has one flaw and that’s his insistence on running every scene longer than needed…drilling down on the beauty of the visuals and the intense agony of emotions. The music and sound design also contribute to the arty angle of the experience. With intense physical and mental cruelty, this film is often hard to handle, but its power comes from the message of human persistence and the undeniable virtuosity of powerful storytelling. 
(4.5 / 5)
