What’s new:

Director Ava DuVernay tackles the interconnected history of oppression in her latest cinematic effort, “Origin.” Influenced by Isabel Wilkerson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” the movie weaves the narratives of the Holocaust, American slavery, and systemic casteism.

Why it matters:

DuVernay’s film is significant as it echoes contemporary issues surrounding racial injustice and hatred. Starting with the tragic modern event of Trayvon Martin’s murder, proceeding to embody the monstrosities of Nazi-era Germany, and even touching Jim Crow laws in the South, “Origin” underscores the transtemporal and cross-cultural manifestations of castes — artificial societal hierarchies promoting brutality and oppression.

The connection:

The concept of caste transcends skin color, showcasing similar structural repressions rampant through history, carving a connection between the fates of racially and ethnically diverse groups. “Origin” boldly references varied historical continuous, like how Nazi officials modeled Nuremberg Laws based on America’s racial segregation to insights of kinship from an Indian Dalit scholar towards African-Americans and Palestinians.

Controversy and critical race theory:

The source material, “Caste,” has stirred up debates centered on critical race theory, with conservative opposition considering the analytical lens as pedagogical indoctrination. As a part of this contention, “Origin” resonates with current disputes over educational content and percolating book bans in the United States.

A blend of history and narrative:

Alongside the larger narrative, DuVernay enriches “Origin” with powerful anecdotes paying homage to anti-atrocity icons and Jewish texts that influenced Wilkerson’s research. Aligning its dramatic thrust with today’s struggles against intolerance, “Origin” dives deep into the tumultuous waves of history while shedding light on the darker phases of subjugation, including the unsparing modes upheld by both the antebellum slavery system and the extermination-focused Holocaust.

The takeaway:

“Origin” emerges as an affirmation of past strifes connected by unyielding caste systems poised against specific groups and advocates an insightful comprehension of the power dynamics rooted in oppression — universally shaped by visible and invisible societal divides. Its bold comparative method provokes critical thought about oppression’s longevity and communal consequences.

This story was first published on jpost.com.