Disclosure: I was given access to this film for reviewing purposes and received no payment. All opinions are my own.
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment |
Sweet Thing, an intimate, creatively filmed, and fantastically personal film directed by the accomplished filmmaker Alexandre Rockwell (In the Soup, Little Feet), will be released digitally and in cinemas nationwide in the UK & Ireland, from Friday, 10th September 2021.
Amongst three international wins, Sweet Thing picked up the Crystal Bear for Generation Kplus - Best Film at the 2020 Berlin International Film Festival and the College Jury Prize for Best Film at Quebec City International Film Festival 2020.
Sweet Thing is an intriguing story of childhood adventure, imagination, and challenges. Teenager Billie (Lana Rockwell), a 15-year-old girl who fantasizes about Billie Holiday as a sort of fairy godmother, and younger brother Nico (Nico Rockwell) share time between their separated parents - father Adam (Will Patton, The Postman, Minari) a chaotic man with a loving heart for his kids who is working as a Christmas Santa, and mother Eve (Karyn Parsons, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), who has redefined her identity in a brazen style since leaving Adam and is now living with a new and obnoxious boyfriend Beaux (ML Josepher). The kids feel uncomfortable around Beaux but visits to their mother have introduced them to a new friend Malik, a boy as equally adrift as they are. Half in desperation and half in a spirit of adventure, this trio sets off on a running wild trek across Massachusetts, crossing paths with a variety of eccentrics.
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment |
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment - Will Patton as Adam |
The cinematography is beautiful and gives an intimacy to the experience
of viewing this film. The “normal” details of the lives and surroundings
of the characters, show the human experience with such honesty.
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment - Nico Rockwell as Nico and Lana Rockwell as Billie |
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment - Karyn Parsons as Eve |
Sweet Thing is a family affair, as director Alexandre Rockwell’s daughter Lana Rockwell (Billie), son Nico Rockwell (Nico) and wife Karyn Parsons (Eve) all star in the film and give excellent, layered performances. Will Patton is also very engaging in his performance as the troubled father. Jabari Watkins gives a brilliantly moving performance as Malik.
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment - Jabari Watkins as Malik |
I thoroughly enjoyed Sweet Thing. It is an enthralling mixture of the joys and sorrows of childhood, whilst giving viewers a chance to go on an interesting journey with Billie, Nico, and Malik. As a viewer, I rooted for them and loved seeing them enjoying each other’s company, whereas at the same time, I just wanted to protect them. Their lives are beautifully poetic and yet they are caught up in the harsh realities of family dysfunction, poverty, and injustice. We get to see the world through their eyes separate from the full adult gaze. All three young actors’ performances were nuanced and incredibly powerful. This is an excellent film!
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment |
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| Photo courtesy of Eureka Entertainment |
Sweet Thing will be released digitally and in cinemas nationwide in the UK & Ireland, from Friday, 10th September 2021.
The Official UK Theatrical Trailer (UK & Ireland) can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/VlFd_k9IMZA
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