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Sisterhood and Sacrifice: “Is God Is” Depicts Black Female Rage
Sisterhood and Sacrifice: “Is God Is” Depicts Black Female Rage
Twin sisters Racine and Anaia set out on a quest prompted by their mother, Ruby, whom they call “God,” to “make their daddy dead” after he attempts to burn them alive in their home. Permanently disfigured by the attack, the sisters embark on a journey that alters the trajectory of their lives forever.
The film features several influential Black actors, including Vivica A. Fox as Ruby the God, Sterling K. Brown as the Monster, Janelle Monáe as New Wife and Erika Alexander as Divine the Healer. Kara Young and Mallori Johnson portray the twins, Racine the Rough One and Anaia the Quiet One.
The film stands out for its ability to blend multiple genres, including tragedy, drawing on Greek mythology, Western, Afropunk, dark comedy and Southern Gothic. It balances these elements without overwhelming the audience, following a clear narrative centered on Racine and Anaia and the obstacles they face.
Aleshea Harris adapted and directed the film based on her Off-Broadway play of the same name. Using the structure of a modern-day myth, she creates space for two Black women to confront generational trauma, grieve the lives they might have had and channel deep-seated anger into a pursuit of vengeance.
Racine and Anaia encounter two additional families their father, the Monster, started after abandoning them. As they navigate these relationships in their search for him, the sisters frequently clash. Their dynamic reflects two responses to grief: anger and bargaining. Despite their disagreements over how to carry out their plan, they remain committed to each other until the end.
On April 15, Atlanta University Center students were invited to attend an exclusive free premiere screening of the film at Regal Atlantic Station. Actor Xavier Mills, who plays Scotch in the film and appeared in the Netflix series “Forever,” made a guest appearance.
“The energy and support from these schools filled the theater in a real way. You could feel it, the laughter, shock, even tears. This film pulled everyone into a world of vengeance, sisterhood and reckoning,” Mills said on Instagram.
I attended the premiere alongside friends from Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College and can attest to the audience’s response. Several plot twists shocked viewers, while well-crafted humor balanced the tension. Above all, the film offers a sense of gratification in seeing marginalized communities fully experience a range of emotions without being silenced or dismissed.
Twin sisters Racine and Anaia set out on a quest prompted by their mother, Ruby, whom they call “God,” to “make their daddy dead” after he attempts to burn them alive in their home. Permanently disfigured by the attack, the sisters embark on a journey that alters the trajectory of their lives forever.
The film features several influential Black actors, including Vivica A. Fox as Ruby the God, Sterling K. Brown as the Monster, Janelle Monáe as New Wife and Erika Alexander as Divine the Healer. Kara Young and Mallori Johnson portray the twins, Racine the Rough One and Anaia the Quiet One.
The film stands out for its ability to blend multiple genres, including tragedy, drawing on Greek mythology, Western, Afropunk, dark comedy and Southern Gothic. It balances these elements without overwhelming the audience, following a clear narrative centered on Racine and Anaia and the obstacles they face.
Aleshea Harris adapted and directed the film based on her Off-Broadway play of the same name. Using the structure of a modern-day myth, she creates space for two Black women to confront generational trauma, grieve the lives they might have had and channel deep-seated anger into a pursuit of vengeance.
Racine and Anaia encounter two additional families their father, the Monster, started after abandoning them. As they navigate these relationships in their search for him, the sisters frequently clash. Their dynamic reflects two responses to grief: anger and bargaining. Despite their disagreements over how to carry out their plan, they remain committed to each other until the end.
On April 15, Atlanta University Center students were invited to attend an exclusive free premiere screening of the film at Regal Atlantic Station. Actor Xavier Mills, who plays Scotch in the film and appeared in the Netflix series “Forever,” made a guest appearance.
“The energy and support from these schools filled the theater in a real way. You could feel it, the laughter, shock, even tears. This film pulled everyone into a world of vengeance, sisterhood and reckoning,” Mills said on Instagram.
I attended the premiere alongside friends from Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College and can attest to the audience’s response. Several plot twists shocked viewers, while well-crafted humor balanced the tension. Above all, the film offers a sense of gratification in seeing marginalized communities fully experience a range of emotions without being silenced or dismissed.