Whiteness (2026)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

Whiteness consists of multiple short films meant to depict the continued intensity of, well…whiteness in the world. Racist animated cartoons, military propaganda, and more converge to create something.

The first of many short films sees chaos and pretension as the centerpiece of the production. As a couple sits at opposite ends of the table, they argue about nonsense, speak in riddles, and express to the world the endlessness of the nonsensical discourse that runs through the veins of Caucasian culture.  

It’s hard, simply as a human being, to appreciate what Whiteness attempts to do. Regardless of who or what a film is attempting to demonize, compiling the worst moments of someone’s existence can do only one of two polarizing things. 

1. It compels its viewers to believe that what is depicted on screen is the entire scope of that thing’s existence. 

2. It forces the ones being demonized to fight back. Not with violence, but with a strong, emotional unwillingness to buy into the propaganda depicted on screen. 

I strongly believe that Whiteness will face scrutiny after being seen by some viewers, and that the backlash directed toward it will, much like the previously mentioned potential for polarization, can either hinder its greater reception moving forward or intrigue viewers to watch. 

In many ways this film fell flat for me as it attempted to convey an extreme message to its viewers; but I’ve said before that there is something to appreciate about every film, and I believe that’s true of Whiteness as well. I mentioned that the first short film depicts a couple sitting down to dinner, experiencing turbulence in their relationship—and that pretension is the thread that runs throughout this short. As the greater narrative moves on, each of the other shorts included present completely different stories. Aggression, militaristic power, and blatant racism are common themes among the others, yet, again, they are all so different from one another. It’s hard to stitch together a series of pieces that, while related, are separate from one another. Regardless of the singular goal of Writer-Director Alessio Cappelletti, he does create something intentionally fractured, ultimately making it a solid whole. While wildly different in tone, Whiteness reminds me of the 1987 film Amazon Women on the Moon, in which a series of vignettes are brought together to tell a grander story. 

Even given the positives that exist within Whiteness, it’s hard for me to sit here and say, with any sincerity, that I believe people should watch this film. On one hand Cappelletti constructs a film that makes sense, is effectively paced, and ultimately plays the role(s) it was intended to. On the other hand, however, I equate Whiteness to something like propagandistic slop, where it doesn’t allow the viewer to think for themselves and spoon feeds them an agenda. With all of that said, it’s clear that Cappelletti has the capacity to be a strong filmmaker, but this outing just wasn’t for me. 

Written & Directed by Alessia Cappelletti. 

Starring Britton Webb, Normeka Ageous, Lamont J. Douglas, Brecken Ellis, Carmen Ferrell, etc. 

3.5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED