'Growing Pains' Review: On Surviving Adolescence With Your Best Friend
Director Catherine Argyrople draws inspiration from her own life in her debut feature, the teenage coming-of-age drama Growing Pains. Imagine combining the most vulnerable moments of Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade and Hulu's Pen15 series, and you'll find that Argyrople's sensitive film fits in squarely with these relatable titles. Growing Pains acknowledges the struggles of young girls growing up in today's social media-obsessed digital age, and offers an empathetic look at how friendships change as we grow older. The film was awarded the ReFrame Stamp by The Sundance Institute and Women in Film for gender-balanced hiring.
Best Friends Forever
Taking place on the cusp of their freshman year of high school, Zoe (Molly Morneweck) and Nat (Deanna Tarraza) eagerly anticipate what the new school year will bring. The girls are best friends and have been since childhood. Entering into this new chapter together lessens the anxiety and stress for both of them. To celebrate the end of the summer, their former classmates throw a pool party, which both girls are invited to. Unfortunately, Nat becomes obligated to work at her family's sandwich shop, so Zoe braves going to the party alone. Once there though, Zoe wishes she never RSVP'd "Yes". Standing in her bathing suit, her classmates begin to mock her scar, a result of her childhood cancer. Zoe also begins to feel self-conscious about her weight, which falls within a healthy range for an adolescent girl going through puberty.
This critical, self-actualizing moment is what sets the girls down different paths. They begin to prioritize different things. Zoe begins to obsess about joining the school's crew team, stirring up body image issues in the process. Nat consistently finds herself stuck working, missing out on experiences that every other teenager seems to be enjoying. The girls spend less time together and inevitably start to grow apart. Once best friends, they now feel more like strangers. The coming-of-age moments they thought they would share are being experienced separately. Soon enough, they realize that navigating through life's confusing transition from middle school to high school isn't the same without a best friend. At this realization, they are determined to do whatever they can to rekindle the friendship.
Written, Directed, Produced, and Filmed by Women
Growing Pains covers a lot of authentic issues that teenage girls have faced for decades. Topics like calorie counting and diet culture, questioning sexual identity, and inconsiderate sexual advances from boys are all portrayed. These issues are all addressed with compassion, due in large part to the relatability between the subject matter and the director. Filmmaker Catherine Argyrople puts women at the forefront of her film, which acts as a personal love letter to female friendship. The spotlight on diversity that this indie drama sheds, from the women on screen to the women behind the camera, is inspiring.
Takeaway
The film can feel a bit too "After School Special" but its message is undoubtedly a positive one. Growing Pains is a tender look at one of life's most vulnerable moments. It also serves as a reminder that, with solid friendships, we can get through anything.
'The Birds Who Fear Death' Review: Spotlighting Local Indigenous Struggles
Two brothers set out to reclaim what they believe is their rightful inheritance in filmmaker Sanjay Patel's The Birds Who Fear Death. Visually impressive, the film spotlights the side effects of prioritizing economic wealth over quality of life. Patel's thought-provoking drama also offers an urgent perspective on the ongoing eco-crisis caused by corporate greed. The Birds Who Fear Death already stands strong with 20 award nominations after its World Premiere at the 2024 Calgary International Film Festival.
"Dearly Departed Asshole"
Adam (Adam Beach) and Ryan (Simon Baker) are not shy about the fact that they want their sick father to die. Once he does, they expect an inheritance that will hopefully solve all of their problems. It's a perfect plan. However, once he passes away, the brothers are shocked to discover they've been left out of the will. Instead of contributing to generational wealth, their father privately gave their inheritance to a rural 1st Nation community called BIRD. "Screws us in life, screws us in death!" they proclaim angrily. Adam and Ryan threaten to contest the will but are swiftly met with roadblocks and red tape. They believe that the only way to get "their" money back is by talking to the chief of BIRD and convince him to split the inheritance with them 50/50.
Upon arriving at the BIRD community, their presence isn't exactly celebrated. Many blame their father, who was a prominent Indigenous businessman, for the disruption and ongoing health crisis within the community. Cancer and other chronic health issues are a direct result of some of their father's shady business dealings primarily with the oil & gas industry. After speaking with BIRD's Chief Ed (Graham Greene), Adam and Ryan realize their father acted selfishly. His decision to funnel money back into the community is now seen as an act of repentance. It's blood money, not an act of goodwill. This discovery sends Adam and Ryan into a spiral. They frantically start questioning everything they thought they knew about their dad.
Spotlighting Local Indigenous Struggles
The Birds Who Fear Death playfully dips into the dark comedy genre for moments of emotional brevity. The relationship between Adam and Ryan includes playful banter reminiscent of a Cheech and Chong skit. More striking, though, is the film's ability to mirror an eco-thriller. Sanjay Patel does a fantastic job of showing, not telling, the audience, these stark facts. If we continue to blindly fuel these industries and allow them to destroy more native land, we risk the loss of irreplaceable natural wonders.
Takeaway
A good journey contains many layers, as does The Birds Who Fear Death. The film is an exploration of human fragility and empathy in a world often driven by corporate greed and selfishness. "Having worked in the Oil & Gas sector for over 20 years," Patel says, "I witnessed firsthand the relentless and often unethical pursuit of wealth. [This led] to ruin, disaster, and the collapse of ecosystems. This film is a powerful visual exploration of universal themes like love, faith, greed, and man’s conflict with nature, told through the lens of local Indigenous struggles."
'A Time of Reflections' Review: A Passion Project That Sparks Joy
Filmmaker Matthew Paris has an important message to share. It's simple, yet honest: Everyone deserves a break. The experimental short film, A Time of Reflections, is Paris' plea to the overworked and underpaid people in our society to stop and smell the roses. A true one-man band, Paris takes on the role of director, screenwriter, and actor in this humble indie short.
One Man's Introspective Journey To Gratitude
Through a confident and compelling voiceover, an unnamed man (Matthew Paris) abruptly decides to leave the isolation of his home. Spending his days and nights working and living in one location has taken a toll on his motivation, so he decides to get some fresh air and change his surroundings. He jumps into his truck with no destination in mind, just chasing a feeling. Driving around his neighborhood, he finds a newfound appreciation for life's unpredictable journey. On his exploration, he encounters and praises the sun, trees, and roads. They all remind him that the finer things in life often exist right outside of your comfort zone. This perspective reinvigorates him as he experiences a reawakening of sorts. He returns home refreshed, renewed, and ready to get back to work.
A Passion Project Made by, and Starring, Matthew Paris
Using footage seemingly captured entirely by Paris, the film acts as a therapeutic message to those struggling with burnout and identity. It's clear that this is a passion project made on a limited (or potentially non-existent) budget. Because of this, some of the elements feel stretched. At times, the music starts and abruptly ends which can feel a bit disjointed. Visually, the film forgoes color correction, giving the overall aesthetic a more organic feeling. However, A Time of Reflections does offer audiences a few moments of serenity through its poetic script.
Takeaway
With a brief runtime of three minutes and thirty-nine seconds, director Matthew Paris' film reminds us that life is short and that it's never too late to practice gratitude.
'Nightcap' Review: A Young Man Terrorized by Job Interview Anxiety
Writer/director Cody MacDonald shows how internalized paranoia can lead to real-life consequences in the ultra-indie short film, Nightcap. Running a little over six minutes long, Nightcap uses one man's pre-job interview anxiety and personifies it as a tangible night terror.
Job Interview Anxiety Unlocked
The night before a big interview at an impressive company, Gus (Michael Lake) begins to panic. He had traveled out of town for this opportunity, which only adds to his mounting stress. Despite words of encouragement from his girlfriend, whom he talks to briefly on the phone once settled into his hotel room, Gus's lack of confidence continues to grow. He struggles to fall asleep that night, knowing what is to come in the morning.
Just as he is about to drift off, he senses a figure in the corner of the room. The film shifts sonic gears and the score turns into a fun bass chord progression as the figure becomes more in focus. This mystery man startles Gus who frantically turns on the light from his bedside table, when suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the figure vanishes. Was it all in Gus's head? Is the hotel haunted? These questions are never fully answered but hypothesizing the outcome is almost half the fun.
Doing a Lot With a Little
Nightcap shows how a clever filmmaker can do a lot with limited resources. Shot mostly in a single location, the film's claustrophobic tendencies add a sense of urgency to the protagonist's existential dread. The film also does a solid job of playing with sound, both in the score and effects. It is heavily reliant on music to convey feelings through different storytelling beats.
Takeaway
For a debut film, MacDonald shows promise as a budding filmmaker. Sure the technical components of the film could have been stronger. The script could have given the audience more resolution at the end, and the performance could have been a little more lively. But MacDonald does the best he can with what limited resources he has, making Nightcap a brief, yet true, indie film experience.
'The Summer Book' Review: A Summer Spent Swimming Through Grief
Filmmaker Charlie McDowell captures a wistful spirit of summer amidst the backdrop of family tragedy in the drama The Summer Book. Based on the novel of the same name by Finnish author Tove Jansson, the film pulls audiences into its world much like a breaking wave returning to the ocean. It's easy to get swept away in this intergenerational drama about the finality of life and death.
What Happens
8-time Oscar-nominated actor Glenn Close plays Grandmother, an artist who lives on a small, uninhabited island in the Gulf of Finland. She invites her adult son (Anders Danielsen Lie) and her 9-year-old granddaughter (Emily Matthews) to stay with her for the season as they heal from a heartbreaking death within the immediate family. Amidst the beauty and stillness of their environment, the trio begins to reconnect with nature and each other. They engage in a communal journey through grief that ultimately allows old wounds and complicated family dynamics to start to heal.
Takeaway
The Summer Book is light on plot, which may cause some viewers to grow impatient. However, it seems as if filmmaker Charlie McDowell would rather his audience "experience" the film as opposed to "analyze" it. The one-location setting allows us to familiarize ourselves with the surroundings, imagining how we would spend our days and nights on a picturesque remote island. Aiding in this daydream is the softly angelic score by composer Hania Rani who knows how to elicit feelings of warmth from within. Despite its lack of substantial momentum, The Summer Book still provides a gently therapeutic and visually appealing experience.
'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' Review: A Defiant Observation of Life and Death
Filmmaker Rungano Nyoni's sophomore feature, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, earns the title of most unusual film I screened at AFI FEST. Her first film, the BAFTA-winning I Am Not a Witch, premiered in 2018 to critical acclaim and quickly solidified itself as an indie darling. Nyoni stays true to her roots and dips viewers back into the colorful and rousing Zambian culture in On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, which won the Best Director award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. It is being distributed by A24 later this year.
What Happens
The film tells the story of a young woman named Shula who must navigate through uncertainty and familial expectations after the death of her uncle. On her way home from a costume party, Shula passes by a body lying untouched in the middle of the road. Upon realizing this is her uncle, with whom she has a complicated relationship, Shula does what she can to remove him from the road and preserve what dignity he has left.
The news quickly reaches both her immediate and extended family. Shula becomes enveloped in explosive discourse between the younger women in her family as her uncle's questionable past comes to light. Sharing memories that were previously kept hidden within the depths of their subconscious, the women finally let go. Like a fire hydrant bursting open, they emotionally confront their confusing and conflicted relationship with the deceased.
Takeaway
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl feels like a return to form for A24, a studio that prioritizes art-centric films with a distinct point of view. It's defiant and unapologetically absurd, some of the choices the characters make may even rub audiences the wrong way. Dealing with difficult subject matter, like sexual assault, should always be handled with incredible sensitivity, which is the case here. Filmmaker Rungano Nyoni finds clever ways to infuse dark comedy into an otherwise horrific situation.
'September 5' Review: Reliving an Olympic Nightmare
A retelling of the horrific events that claimed the lives of eleven Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics, September 5 is an adrenaline-inducing thriller that feels eerily relevant given today's political turmoil. Directed by Tim Fehlbaum, September 5 was among the highlighted titles at AFI FEST. The film made its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival where it was nominated for, but ultimately lost, the Audience Award. September 5 is being distributed by Paramount with a limited release date scheduled for November 27, before a nationwide release later in December.
What Happens
Starring Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro, September 5 takes audiences into the control room of ABC studios on the fateful day that changed live broadcasting forever. It was supposed to be just a typical morning for the ABC sports crew who were gearing up for another 12+ hours of covering the Olympics. However, everything changed when the newly hired German interpreter, Gladys Deist (Georgina Rich), deciphers through chaotic messages, that several Israeli athletes and coaches were taken hostage.
Eight members of the Palestinian militant organization, Black September, infiltrated the Olympic Village in a highly orchestrated attack targeted toward Israeli athletes. In the blink of an eye, the ABC crew abandoned their typical sports broadcasting routine and transformed into an impromptu breaking news station, led by Geoffrey Mason (Magaro) and Roone Arledge (Sarsgaard).
Takeaway
September 5 relies heavily on incorporating archival footage from the station's actual 1972 broadcast. It is both stunning and heartbreaking to relive these moments, knowing full well that these events changed the course of history. To that end, part of me believes that September 5 would have been even stronger as a documentary film, as opposed to a "Hollywood-ified" historical thriller. Director Tim Fehlbaum's control-room drama feels a bit too slick at times, with characters effortlessly getting from point A to point B without much struggle (I highly doubt the individuals who actually worked the newsroom that day had a similar experience). However, September 5 keeps an energetic pace throughout and is an easy film to get caught up in for an hour and a half.
'Blood Dried Hands' Review: A New Take on the Conventional Genre Film
The spooky season may be over but filmmaker Jason Vandygriff proves it's never too late to indulge in a good thriller. A new take on the conventional genre film, Blood Dried Hands offers a unique perspective inside the mind of a serial killer who begins to battle with his own conscience. Blood Dried Hands marks Vandygriff's directorial debut, but don't make the mistake of expecting an inherently novice production. It's quite the opposite, in fact. Vandygriff brings unmatched authenticity to the film by incorporating past experiences from his 15 years in Texas law enforcement.
A Serial Killer Suffers From Growing Empathy
There are two types of people on this earth: Predator and Prey. Hayden Carey (Chance Gibbs), however, is a combination of both. He is a conventionally attractive man who appears to have it all, but deep down is battling serious demons. When we first meet Hayden, he is in the process of murdering an innocent woman and discarding her body in the woods. "The screaming eventually stops," he says, "but the sound still echoes." Despite his atrocious actions, Hayden reveals that he also has a sensitive side. His uncontrollable killing spree not only affects the victims of his crimes, but the mental anguish is ruining his life as well. It isn't until he kidnaps a local young woman, and confesses his desire to kill himself, that we truly see how far gone Hayden is.
All the while, Sgt. Investigator Edi Sharp (Micha Marie Stevens), is hot on Hayden's trail. The local detective is desperate to save his latest victim before reaching her deadly fate. Much like the scene in The Silence of the Lambs where Clarice visits Lecter in prison, Sgt. Sharp visits a man named Finley Rawls (director Jason Vandygriff), who she hopes can guide her in the right direction before it's too late. Rawls is the most prolific child murderer in Texas' state history and Sgt. Sharp is hopeful that he may provide insight into the mind of this killer.
An Awards-Circuit Darling
Blood Dried Hands holds an impressive awards record with 102 wins and 15 nominations. Jason Vandygriff impressively pulls off the responsibility of not only writing and directing but also starring in his first feature film. His performance as Finley Rawls steals the scene every time. Vandygriff's performance evokes the personalities of some of cinema's most memorable villains like Anthony Hopkins' "Hannibal Lecter", Danny DeVito's "Penguin", and even Nicolas Cage's "Longlegs". Chance Gibbs and Micha Marie Stevens equally carry their weight as they find themselves stuck in the classic cat-and-mouse chase.
Takeaway
If you're looking for a highly dramatic serial killer thriller told from a unique perspective, Blood Dried Hands is for you. In a similar vein as Mindhunter, The Silence of the Lambs, and True Detective, Blood Dried Hands is an impressive independent production that will have you wrapped in suspense until the very end.