The Other, Gold (2024)

In a multi week spanning movie, Farrah tries to navigate her feelings and frustrations as another wave of COVID hits, as well as the realization some of her relationships might be over.

Plot Summary

It’s January 2022, and Farrah has been going through it. Family members are dying, friendships are being tested, her agent is rejecting her work, and she even dealt with a racist incident recently. But life goes on, and from one conversation to another, we watch as Farrah tries to navigate her life.

Cast and Characters

Character’s Name	Actor’s Name
Farrah	Sharaé Nikai
Dionne	Tiwana Floyd
Gerald	Amin Joseph

Farrah

A writer living in Los Angeles, Farrah has taken the COVID pandemic seriously, to the point of becoming a bit too isolated. But as the OMICRON variant dies down, she is trying to reconnect with people in person, not just over video chat or the phone.

Dionne

Dionne is one of Farrah’s closest friends. Like Farrah, she has a lot going on but tries to make time for her when she has the capacity.

Gerald

Gerald has a barber shop and multiple hustles, all of which most of his family, including Farrah, are dismissive of.

• The actor is also known for their role in “A Holiday Chance.”

Review

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

Good If You Like

• Movies focused on conversations with a decent amount of back-and-forth

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Highlights

The Conversations

One of the things pushed by Farrah in the movie, and followed up on within the post-screening conversation, is how lonely things become for LA transplants during the height of COVID-19. In addition, you get a sense of the conversations that often need to be had but often are avoided.

For example, Farrah’s friend Dionne and her have multiple conversations, one or two of which end contentiously. But, these multipart conversations, filled with topics from their relationship, their family, partners, or negative experiences, push you to see Farrah. Alongside that is Farrah’s conversation with a delivery man in which she explains the difference between men having their friendships break compared to women, from women needing something subtle to give them a reason to men needing something huge.

In a weird way, “The Other, Gold” succeeds in both telling you and showing you who Farrah is, her world, and those who live inside her universe. For whether it is conversations with her parents, watching her cousin Gerald talk amongst his peers in his barbershop, or Farrah speaking with a delivery guy, you’re reminded how valuable human connection is, especially when you can have meaningful conversations.

It’s A Communal Experience

Watching this with an audience feels like a must. If possible, with a Black audience or one that knows Black culture. The reason we say this is because of its references, colloquiums, and how it highlights things like so many misspellings repast, it’s hilarious. However, what will really push the film over is an audience that relates to situations like drama in the family group chat, and you hear their commentary around you.

On The Fence

You May Get To The Point Of Wondering Where This Is Going

The movie takes place over three acts, the first focuses on family, the second on friends, and the third is a wrap-up. But, with “The Other, Gold” being more so character-driven than story-driven, it creates room for frustration since you don’t know how this will end or where this is going.

Yes, there are points you fathom it could end, with either COVID being considered over federally, Farrah selling a script, her visiting friends or family, or a slew of other things. However, even as Act III comes across the screen and you are pushed to see this as the end, while you are never bored, you may begin to feel that the film is losing its luster and could potentially lose your attention.

After all, at times, “The Other, Gold” can feel like a series of shorts made into one cohesive project, where it wasn’t clear how or if stopping was possible. But, even with that said, while you will wonder how this will end, the ending is satisfying.

Background Information

Film Length	1 Hour 38 Minutes
Date Released	June 7, 2024
Distributor	Film Festival – Tribeca Festival
Director(s)	David Lassiter, Sharaé Nikai
Writer(s)	Sharaé Nikai
Based On Work By	N/A
Genre(s)	Comedy, Drama
Content Rating	Not Rated
Content Information
Dialog	Discriminatory Language, Cursing
Violence	N/A
Sexual Content	N/A
Miscellaneous	Drinking