"This film is about humanity. It's about dignity," said Duvernay, who stopped by ABC7 to discuss the film.
"We have so many different names, so many different '-isms' that we have to deal with and grapple with... but at the core of it, Isabel Wilkerson's theory is that there's a thing called 'caste' that is underneath it all. It's a very simple but insidious idea, that in every society, in every culture, throughout time, we have a tendency as human beings to create hierarchies."
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At first, many people told Duvernay this book would be "unadaptable." She was happy to prove them wrong.
"It's a nonfiction book, it doesn't have characters that take you through the beginning, middle and end of the story," said Duvernay.
The filmmaker also took a different approach to financing "Origin." She funded it through nonprofit organizations. And because she took that route, instead of dealing with a major studio, she was able to write, cast and produce the film she wanted to make.
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"I was able to be free as an artist," said Duvernay.
"Origin" is in theaters Jan. 19.