“We Are Who We Are” Inspires A Younger Generation Of Viewers
By Kevin Conley II, Staff Writer
“We Are Who We Are” is an HBO miniseries, also streaming on HBO Max, directed by the Academy-Award nominated Luca Guadagnino, known for his most celebrated film, “Call Me By Your Name”.
The show stars Jack Dylan Grazer, Jordan Kristine Seamon, Chloe Sevigny, Alice Braga, and Kid Cudi. This series is a coming-of-age story of two teenagers named Fraser Wilson, played by Jack Dylan Grazer, and Caitlin Poythress, played by Jordan Kristine Seamon. They both live in an American military base in Italy, and as they venture through the streets of Italy, they discover each other’s inspirations and sexualities, as they discover freedom, art, and the concepts of humanity through their friendship.
“We Are Who We Are” is a miniseries that is structured as a slow building and realistic portrayal of teenage youth through the form of cinematic poetry. The series focuses on the two main characters having the freedom to be teenagers before the world tries to get in the way of their friendship. Most of the characters involved in relationships like families or couples of any kind are somewhat hard to understand, but it’s a way where people want to understand.
Each character in this series has complicated, yet very interesting chemistry with those around them that you just want to keep watching the series again and again to fully understand.
The sound editing is interesting, adding the film’s soundtrack in the background to introduce a complete selection of underrated and overlooked pop songs. With the cinematography in this miniseries, every shot in it is miraculous.
This series is more akin to a film than a series, considering that the director is known for directing larger products by comparison. The acting keeps the series entertaining enough to not have audiences feel disinterested in the plot.
For example, Jack Dylan Grazer is a poet-inspired, self-inspiring, and rebellious introverted teenager who lives with his mothers and wants to fit in the world that surrounds him. This is considered a “locked up book”, he’s hard to understand at first, but it takes a long time until you figure out who he really is.
That aspect of the role is what makes his performance the best in his career. The same goes for Jordan Kristine Seamon who was wonderful, considering her very first role in any movie or series. She inspires through her ability to change who she is physically and mentally as a man than a woman.
Although the series does not completely carry its emotional barriers, this series is considered more as an artistic piece, very beautiful, but difficult to understand. One day, I hope people will realize that this series is special in its own way and it could reflect how teenage youth in the real world is so different from the teenage youth in this series.
The series also stands out by showing relationships of the same sex living like free people, the ability for people to discover their own beliefs and religions, and that every form of art means something, especially when the series tries to show people that. So clearly, the title of the show gives audiences the message that was completely overlooked, “We Really Are Who We Are”.
“We Are Who We Are” succeeds as a form of cinematic poetry that focuses through the realistic, yet a very interesting portrayal of teenage youth discovering the meaning of freedom, love, and friendship through a small United States military base in Italy. It’s inspiring, it’s entertaining, and it could be something for anyone to see. The series is streaming on HBO Max right now, and if there is anyone who is up for a series to feel inspired about that is closely similar to a film, but longer, then this is the series for you.