social realism

Now the formally restless Susan Choi turns to social realism in her beguiling if baggy “Flashlight,“ mapping a family’s journey among political autocracy and personal pain, from Midwestern cornfields to the Pacific Rim.

The author could have trimmed rhetorical flourishes and excessive explication, shaved off a few adjectives and adverbs; yet the power of “Flashlight” derives from its exacting psychological portraits, Choi’s reconnaissance through the tradition of social realism, the rich tension between her natural cynicism and a desire for empathy.

It was known for its gritty social realism, exploring racism as well as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, mental illness and HIV and Aids.

And I think that I started to gravitate to Italian neorealism, British social realism.

For most of its run time, Bird offers social realism, excellent acting performances, moments of humour and complicated characters - not least the caring but flawed Bailey.