It takes courage to associate oneself with a social pariah like Rachel Dolezal.
But, the film hardly plays as an apologetic reframing of Dolezals tarnished legacy.
Dolezal ends up as a springboard from which Brownson vaults into a broader picture of American society.
Credit: Netflix
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Congratulations on making such a brilliant film.
Its a careful and considered take on a really controversial subject.
Job well done!LAURA BROWNSON:Thats nice to hear!
Netflix
I like starting this interview withthat!
[Laughs]
Yeah, this movie has had some, uh,interestingreactions so far.Its not a surprise!
The story is bigger than Rachel…
Netflix
I wanted to understand how one woman could ignite and fuel a national controversy.
All of those things are touched on in the film.
Yes, Rachels the subject, but its not really about Rachel.
So much so that I surrounded myself with a filmmaking team that ran the gamut of reactions to Rachel.
I do not have an agenda with this film.
How did your anti-Rachel team members guide your perspective while filming?We all rode a rollercoaster of sorts.
You vacillate when you spend time with Rachel and her family.
One cant help but care [about her in the moment].
How long did you spend filming Rachel?Two years, beginning around August 2015.
I care deeply about her boys.
Theyre the shining stars and the moral compass of the film.
How long did it take for them to feel comfortable opening up to you?The trust slowly built.
Nobody knew where this was going to land.
So, bizarrely, everyone was a willing participating.
I think the kids felt relieved that theyd found an outlet for their truth and their story.
After two years of filming, Franklin, being a normal teenager, he grew frustrated.
He wanted his old life back.
To Rachels testament, she allowed Franklin to speak his truth even though it was critical of her.
She was not censoring him.
Has Rachel seen the film?Rachelhasseen the film.
What does she think of it?
It was extremely difficult for her to see it.
Rachel does not like to be criticized and the filmiscritical.
That sort of helped soften her initial reaction it being critical and not liking it.
Its such a powerful way to end the film.
What do you hope people get from it?In some ways, Rachel is the ultimate Rorschach test.
Its one of those movies where its impossible to predict what people will take away.
If its fluid, can we add Rachel to that equation?
Why or why not?
