Isabel Wilkerson was going through a rough period. In a short span of time, she lost both her husband and her mother. Mired in grief, she needed a way forward. In the midst of that great personal loss, she found a project that consumed her focus. That project became the book Caste, and her journey through grief to creation is the subject of the new film Origin.

The film opened in limited release in late 2023. It comes from director Ava Duvernay, who wanted to look at the ideas of the book, telling a story that focuses on the larger ideas Wilkerson explored while also offering a compelling look at her own, personal journey.

In the film, we’re introduced to Isabel (Aunjanae Ellis-Taylor), a talented writer who is in a loving marriage to Brett (Jon Bernthal). They support and challenge each other. And as Isabel is wrestling with whether to start a new project inspired by wanting answers about how race and culture got to its current point.

When Brett suddenly passes away, she’s thrown into turmoil. When her mother soon follows, Isabel is a bit lost. But her cousin (Niecy Nash-Betts) helps her return her focus to her work, and the project that sparked her attention before tragedy struck. She finds the inspiration for a new novel, and she seeks to explain racial disharmony in a new way.

Isabel begins looking at the experience of people of color in America, the stratification of races in Nazi Germany and the caste system in India. She finds connections in the way people are treated which leads to a new understanding of the division among people in her book.

The film uses re-enactments of historical people and stories, part of Isabel’s research, to illustrate what she’s learning. In addition, it follows her visiting these areas and working to create the book as she moves past her grief and finds a way forward.

I enjoyed the way this film was put together. It’s possible an exploration of this topic could have been done as a documentary and been engaging. But the way that DuVernay puts a human face on it was incredibly emotional and powerful. I liked the pacing, and the way re-enactments were used to augment the story.

Ellis-Taylor gives a lovely performance in the lead role. She brought Isabel to life, drew you into her story and added a great emotional hook. I was taken with her performance and the way she created this character. Though a smaller role, I enjoyed Bernthal as well. Nash-Betts also gives a nice performance, playing well of Ellis-Taylor.

This is a film that I found deeply emotional and engaging. I also enjoyed the journalistic aspect of the film. It opened in limited release to end the year and now is going wide on Friday, January 19. It’s worth seeking out.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.