Little Boxes (2017)

(Spoiler warning for major plot points.) I definitely see what message ‘Little Boxes’ was trying to convey. A change of setting from a large, diverse city to a smaller town where more or less everyone looks the same can be incredibly jarring. While Gina (Melanie Lynskey) and Mack (Nelsan Ellis) Burns have to handle their new realities, it is especially hard on their son Clark (Armani Jackson). The parents are already adults with fully established identities. They’re less likely to lose sight of who they are based on their new location. Clark, however, is also dealing with growing up. Being so, he is a lot less sure of himself and is far more influenced by what others around him think he should be as he wants to fit in. Clark starts to make friends with two girls, Ambrosia (Oona Laurence) and Julie (Miranda McKeon). As they have no prior exposure to people of color, they ignorantly pass judgement on him based on stereotypical expectations from the media. They make a lot of assumptions about Clark’s interests and his behavior, and frequently comment microaggressions. Unfortunately, the character of the girls (and many of the adults) in this film is where my biggest critique lies. Even though they're young kids from a small town, I find the problematic things they say unrealistic. Besides the microaggressions that are more subtle in showing their ignorance, much of the dialogue feels too