Sundance's ‘Master’ Grapples With The Terror Of Othering
essence.compredominantly white institutions (PWI), can be a daunting task often confounded with feelings of isolation and even terror. In her feature film debut Master, filmmaker Mariama Diallo grapples with the psychological effects of racial terror and the pitfalls of ignoring the lessons of history.
Set at a New England-based Ivy League University, Master centers on Gail Bishop (Regina Hall). She is the sole tenured Black professor who has been newly elected as a “Master,” or a dean of students — the first Black person in the university’s history to hold such a role.
As Gail tries to find her footing as an advocate for her students, her view of the university begins to unravel. She’s also terrorized by pest infestations, haunting artifacts, and strange noises in her University-issued housing.
Though she has a group of first years under her helm, Gail takes an interest in Jasmine Moore (Zoe Renee), one of the only Black scholars, trying to figure out who she is in this new environment.From the moment Jasmine steps on campus, she is othered.
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