The Discreet Insensitivity of ‘Slumberland’
The cultural insensitivity of 'Slumberland' is discreet, and can be easily overlooked in CGI extravaganza.

January 2011: a team from the University of Basel makes two spectacular discoveries. The first was a previously unknown tomb, which was given the number KV64 and contained two mummies. It had originally been created at the time of Amenhotep III for a princess of the 18th dynasty and was reused a few centuries later for the burial of a noblewoman of the 22nd dynasty. Right next to it is the already known burial site KV40, where the Basel researchers have now carried out excavations for the first time. They discovered dozens of mummies - an unusual find in the Valley of the Kings, where most tombs were built for just one pharaoh. Initially, the archaeologists estimated the number of dead at 30, but after months of collaboration with evolutionary scientist Frank Rühli from the University of Zurich, they came to the conclusion that there must actually be more than 90. Who were these women?
The cultural insensitivity of 'Slumberland' is discreet, and can be easily overlooked in CGI extravaganza.
Cord Jefferson's hilarious and thought-provoking film continues a long-standing cinematic tradition, expanding the conversation around the impact of systemic racism in today's media.
A young girl named Hailey Mays sings a country song that is named after the film's title.
The gentle, emotional nuances of Evan’s coming-of-age story would have been so beneficial to have incorporated into the life of a POC character. Showing a Black, Asian or Latino young man that is afforded the space to be vulnerable, flawed and sensitive while driving a compelling and widely-loved narrative would have been a game changer.
This film manages to be simultaneously topical and timeless. Without being preachy, it highlights society’s flawed relationship with tech; insights into the complex ideas of family struggle are expertly dispersed among a perfectly paced and balanced story.
I am an Armenian who has a mild form of epilepsy. I rarely see Armenian culture and epilepsy properly portrayed in film or TV. I delve into the how and why.