'Zola' is a Modern Black Fairytale
It’s fun, it’s energetic, but it’s also understated and vicarial. Zola is a modern black fairytale and future of black movies.

New England codfish-packer Silas Kidder wants his son to succeed him in the business, but because young Cuthbert seems interested only in playing pool, his father turns him out. In Chicago, Cuthbert beats a gang of pool sharks at their own game, and in anger they steal all his money and knock him out cold. He is picked up by tin-can magnate James Knight and his pretty daughter Julie, who invite him to recuperate at their estate.
It’s fun, it’s energetic, but it’s also understated and vicarial. Zola is a modern black fairytale and future of black movies.
The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.
In this high-flying mission, the pups gear up with jets to stop the Duke of Flappington and save Barkingburg.
"Abominable" is an exciting story for children and a great step forward for positive Asian representation.
True crime media is notoriously obsessed with the “missing white woman” trope, and yet the vast majority of American murder victims are male, and well over half are people of color.
Behind all the action, 'Space Sweepers' is a surprisingly heartfelt and progressive story about building community.