16/31
Narrative
During a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, 17-year-old Sam encounters a clash of egos between her father and his oldest friend. India Donaldson’s feature directorial debut. A new great actress is born. It gradually becomes absurd that a 17-year-old as special as Sam goes on a trip with her father and his best friend, her performance will keep you watching until the end. Throughout the film, I kept thinking that her face and expressions could belong to a precocious young French actress (think Léa Seydoux). Reading her bio, I learned that her mother is French. I’m sure we’ll see and hear more about Lilly Collias. In addition to Collias, both male actors – James LeGros and Danny McCarthy – are extremely convincing in their roles. Both the camerawork and the writing are exceptional.