Seagrass (film)

Seagrass is a 2023 Canadian drama film, directed by Meredith Hama-Brown.[1] Hama-Brown's full-length feature debut, the film stars Ally Maki as Judith, a woman who is at a family retreat with her husband Steve (Luke Roberts) and their children following the death of her mother,[1] where she and Steve are coping with tensions in their marriage arising from their status as an interracial couple.[2]

Seagrass
Directed byMeredith Hama-Brown
Written byMeredith Hama-Brown
Produced bySara Blake
Tyler Hagan
StarringAlly Maki
Luke Roberts
CinematographyNorm Li
Edited byShun Ando
Kane Stewart
Music byOscar Vargas
Production
companies
Ceroma Films
Experimental Forest Films
Distributed byGame Theory Films
Release date
  • September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08) (TIFF)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The cast also includes Nyha Huang Breitkreuz, Chris Pang, Sarah Gadon, Hannah Bos, Remy Marthaller, Benjamin Goas, Danielle Klaudt, Miles Phoenix Foley, Gabriel Carter, Kate Gajdosik, Sawyer Proulx, Milania Kerr, Kane Stewart, and Ava Kelders.

Distribution

The film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival,[3] and has been announced as screening at the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival[4] the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival, and the 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival.

Critical response

Emma Badame of That Shelf wrote that "Hama-Brown’s camera lingers on the gorgeous scenery that surrounds this family in turmoil, and the relentless pounding of the waves against the beaches and cliff faces adds a sense of tension and urgency that belies the tranquility of the rest of their surroundings. As the film finally reaches its climax, and the powder-keg of Judith’s emotion finally explodes, it’s devastating in its simplicity but also in its relatability. It’s clear that in fictionalizing this version of her own experiences and racial identity, the writer-director has struck on something potent and even slightly beautiful about family and parenthood, and the damage done by repeated, generational mistakes. There are no neatly wrapped-up storylines to be found here either, but the layered ending is no less satisfying for its lack of closure. Anything neater would feel like a misstep in a story so grounded in the realities of every day life."[5]

Awards

The film was named to the initial longlist for the 2023 Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award.[6] At TIFF, it was named the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize,[7] and at Cinéfest, it won the award for Outstanding Canadian Feature Film.[8]

At the 2023 Festival du nouveau cinéma, it won the Prix de la diffusion Québécor for best first film in the national competition.[9]

References
  1. V.S. Wells, "BC filmmaker Meredith Hama-Brown to premiere debut feature at TIFF". The Georgia Straight, August 4, 2023.
  2. Radheyan Simonpillai, "TIFF 2023: B.C. director Meredith Hama-Brown set to make splash with layered debut Seagrass". The Globe and Mail, September 1, 2023.
  3. Valerie Complex, "TIFF Unveils Cinematic First Looks With Discovery And Midnight Madness Program; World Premieres Include ‘Hell Of A Summer,’ ‘Gonzo Girl,’ ‘Widow Clicquot,’ And ‘Boy Kills World’". Deadline Hollywood, August 3, 2023.
  4. "Sudbury-shot 'traumedy' to be a Cinefest special presentation". Sudbury Star, July 27, 2023.
  5. Emma Badame, "TIFF 2023: Seagrass Review". That Shelf, September 10, 2023.
  6. Connie Thiessen, "DGC unveils 2023 Discovery Award long list". Broadcast Dialogue, September 12, 2023.
  7. Christian Zilko, "American Fiction’ Wins People’s Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire, September 17, 2023.
  8. "Cinéfest reveals 2023 award winners". Sudbury.com, September 28, 2023.
  9. Charles-Henri Ramond, "(FNC 2023) Chloé Leriche et Ariane Louis-Seize récompensées". Films du Québec, October 16, 2023.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.