“One of the goals of my stories is getting people to see beyond their limited point of view and realize that every character can be relatable,” says Rees. “Pariah isn’t just about a Black lesbian; it’s a coming-of-age story. Bessie Smith [the focus of her 2015 TV movie, Bessie] wasn’t just an artist but an icon we’re still talking about 100 years later. Mudbound isn’t just a Jim Crow lesson; it’s a story about family and inheritance.”