The summer of 2020 stirred up the appetite for antiracist literary works, highlighting an increased appetite for reading materials penned by Black authors that mirror their experiences and struggles. This whirlwind of a year translated into the directorial debut of Cord Jefferson through his movie, “American Fiction," which scrutinizes the parameters and restrictions of mainstream white interest in narratives surrounding Black life. The film is adapted from Percival Everett’s groundbreaking novel, Erasure.
Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, portrayed by Jeffrey Wright, is a published author and college professor. He is recognized in the academic sphere, yet struggles to reach wider audiences or gain mainstream fame. Frustrated with his unsuccessful attempts at landing a publication deal, largely due to the attention given to the novel of Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), Monk crafts a bogus story. He fabricates a humor-laden book, named My Pafology and later rebranded to a less decorous title, riddled with Black stereotypes under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh. His plan is to give publishing houses a piece of his mind, yet he ends up catching the attention of a publishing giant and a film producer determined to get on the accolade radar.
With family tensions beginning to rise back at home and negative response to his joke novel, Monk grapples with how his work is seen as attractive and commercializable. Meanwhile, his character Stagg R. Leigh is held in high regard, whereas Thelonious Ellison stagnates, attempting to maintain his family's stability amidst turbulent times.
Though laced heavily with symbolism, "American Fiction," manages to balance its structure. The film, however, plays a delicate tug-of-war - at moments using overly dramatic narrative cues to invoke emotions. Amidst Monk’s trials with the success of his phony novel, Monk’s familial complexity gives the story another layer of intensity.
However, the film often reduces its Black female characters to mere narrative devices, such as Monk's sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), who appears for exposition before precipitating the story's first turning point. Coraline (Erika Alexander), Monk’s girlfriend mostly appears as a source of moral support. The household helper Lorraine (Myra Lucretia Taylor) appears to replace his ailing mother, Agnes (Leslie Uggams). Sintara is portrayed as a counterpoint to Monk’s ideas.
The issue of mainstream interest at equating Black experiences with suffering in art is not a new one. Jefferson's film shrewdly explores this bias in relation to contemporary reality. Jeffrey Wright brings life and depth to the struggles Ellison faces, expertly capturing the complex emotions underneath his guarded exterior.
"American Fiction" suffers from a confusing ending with multiple storylines and dream sequences but still shines through with its thoughtful exploration and thematic focus. Despite its many hiccups, the film delivers a powerful message: it resonates the versatility of Black art and life, and fiercely criticizes the systemic constraints that keep these expressions and their creators in check.
