What Is 'Dear White People?'

While it sounds like either a vaguely racist way to start a letter, "Dear White People" is actually a satirical movie from writer-director Justin Simien.

It's his debut film, and the African-American filmmaker squarely turns his eye on race, opening up the conversation.

Opening Oct. 17 in limited release from distributor Roadside Attractions before the movie rolls out across the country later in the month, "Dear White People" has already been noticed.

The film won awards at the Sundance and San Francisco film festivals and was selected for the New Directors/New Films program in New York City.

A companion book of essays written by Simien, "A Guide to Inter-Racial Harmony in 'Post-Racial' America," also comes out this month.

The story, according to The Los Angeles Times, is set at the fictional Ivy League-like school Winchester University -- Calum Marsh in the Village Voice called it "a satire about racism among those least inclined to regard themselves as racist." Samantha White (Tessa Thompson) is a campus provocateur who runs a college radio show called "Dear White People" in which she cheekily addresses how white and black students interact.

For example, the number of black friends required of a white student to not seem racist has been raised to two.

The film looks at difficult issues and its director offers a new perspective that is likely to lead to increased conversation about race and racism.

"I know that people are going to talk about the issues in the film," Simien told The Times, further referring to race, sexuality and gender, "but ultimately I want people to walk away thinking about their own identities and the way in which they created the character that they play and the way that character holds them back and pushes them forward.

Truly, that's what the movie is about to me."