A war of words unfolds as a modern cautionary tale in filmmaker Ian Ebright’s tight-knit drama, The Way We Speak. Making its World Premiere at the Florida Film Festival, the film is a rich character study that centers around obsession, insecurity, and jealousy. With a script that Aaron Sorkin would likely tip his hat to, to the rivaling pressure-building tone of Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, this high-intensity drama is a captivating watch, in large part due to the powerful performance by actor Patrick Fabian.

The film opens on the eve of a big keynote debate conference, where elites gather to debate each other in a dignified and intellectual manner. Simon (Patrick Fabian) is an overly confident participant, especially for being an up-and-coming writer. Surrounded by his industry peers for some time, he has been preparing for this moment–in the spotlight. However, when he receives the news that his best friend and debate opponent has suffered a cardiac arrest, his demeanor changes. Despite his friend’s poor health, Simon refuses to forego the spotlight by postponing the debate, forcing the event staff to find him a replacement. Simon’s wife, a renowned doctor who is also struggling with a health condition, is reluctantly supportive of his decision to keep the debate going, but also growing more apathetic as time goes by.

The next day, Simon is introduced to a young blonde writer named Sarah (Kailey Rhodes), a bestselling Christian author who will be his new debate partner. Simon, an Atheist, and Claire, a religious person, begin their opening remarks on the topic: The existence and importance of “God”. Their initial debate sparks something inside Simon, leading to a jealousy-filled obsession with his new opponent, and creating a subsequent rift with his ailing wife. The more insecure Simon becomes around Sarah, the more miserable his behavior toward everyone around him.

Words can cut like a knife, and how we use them can produce very tangible results. The Way We Speak tells a heightened story about grace and forethought while simultaneously dramatizing deep-seated divisions and unresolved grief. It is a strong feature debut from writer-director Ian Ebright, who knows how to draw in an audience and capture their attention within the first minute. This being a word-saturated film, there was heavy lifting on the part of the performers who all expertly delivered strong performances. Patrick Fabian is the standout here, his embodiment of an entitled-turned-humbled man is a compelling character arc to watch. Small in scope but large in impact, The Way We Speak is a mentally and emotionally stimulating film that is definitely worth a watch.