See You Then (film)

Last updated

See You Then
See You Then (film).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMari Walker
Written by
  • Kristen Uno
  • Mari Walker
Produced by
  • Matt Miller
  • Mia Schulman
  • Kristen Uno
  • Mari Walker
Starring
CinematographyJordan T. Parrott
Edited byMari Walker
Music byTom Wyman
Production
companies
  • Vanishing Angle
  • DiffeRant Productions
Distributed byBreaking Glass Pictures
Release dates
  • March 16, 2021 (2021-03-16)(SXSW)
  • April 1, 2022 (2022-04-01)(United States)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

See You Then is a 2021 American drama film directed, produced, and edited by Mari Walker (in her directorial debut) from a screenplay she co-wrote with Kristen Uno. It stars Pooya Mohseni, Lynn Chen, Danny Jacobs, Nican Robinson, and Nikohl Boosheri.

Contents

The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 16, 2021, and was released in the United States on April 1, 2022, by Breaking Glass Pictures. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Kris is a trans-woman from Phoenix, Arizona. A decade after abruptly breaking up with Naomi, the duo is reuniting for a single evening in Los Angeles. Kris is in town for a network security conference. She is taking care of her cousin's two children. Naomi, a professor, is a mother of two. Kris and Naomi talk about Kris's transition and their friendship. Naomi says she felt hurt when Kris broke up with her. Kris apologizes. Naomi, a performance artist, reveals she gave up on her dreams and moved back with her parents before meeting her husband, Jim. Kris encourages her to return to performing. Later, Kris reveals she broke up with the first person she ever dated since transitioning 13 years ago. The duo talks about Kris' gender reassignment surgery, dating, and spending time with your loved one. Kris tells Naomi that it is harder to be female than trans.

Naomi's colleague Peter Gleason flirts with the duo at a bar. He is on a date with a former student. Naomi calls her life a series of setbacks. Kris tells her that everybody's life is unique. Naomi introduces Kris to Martin, another of her colleagues, who flirts with her. Naomi drives home early to see her child. Naomi and Kris talk about having children. They go to the campus where Naomi works and visit her office. Naomi recalls their last night together. Kris apologizes again, they argue, and Naomi reveals Kris impregnated her before abandoning her. The real reason for the change in her career was her decision to keep the child. Naomi tells Kris that she will never be a mother. Kris says Naomi has no one to blame for her sad life. The last scene shows Naomi performing, lying down next to a painting of a pregnant belly before destroying the art, symbolically accepting who she is.

Cast

Production

The concept for the film arose in the summer of 2017, after Mari Walker wrapped the festival run of Swim, her first narrative short film. She wrote the screenplay with her housemate Kristen Uno. Her hopes for the film were to "provide a new perspective into the trans experience and spark a larger discussion around questions of identity, womanhood, and belonging. The aim of this story was never to focus on transitioning or trans-ness, but rather on the underlying humanity of these two characters and their lives." Funding the project proved difficult. Vanishing Angle approached several production companies for help financing it, but all of them declined due to Walker's lack of experience as a first-time director. The film was funded through Wefunder, a crowdfunding service recommended by Jim Cummings, who had used it to fund his own film The Beta Test around the same time. See You Then was filmed chronologically with the expensive Sony Venice 6K digital camera. It was shot in thirteen days in Los Angeles; filming wrapped on February 1, 2020. [1] [2]

Release

The film premiered at the South by Southwest film festival on March 16, 2021, in the Narrative Spotlight program. [3] It was released in select theaters in the United States on April 1, 2022, by Breaking Glass Pictures, and on DVD and streaming on April 19. [4]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 35 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A character-driven treat for fans of conversation-based drama, the well-acted See You Then offers a refreshing perspective on relationship stories and gender roles." [5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100 based on six critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [6]

Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com praised the film's confidence, especially in its screenplay. He said the film "honors the gradual evolution of a long talk, so much that their literal pacing reads as its only unnatural flourish—they take several minutes to walk about two blocks. But that rhythm, of one step at a time, nearly takes on a hypnotic effect. It forces the viewer to slow down and drink it all in, and focus on what Kris and Naomi are not saying to each other." [7] Sarah-Tai Black, writing for the Los Angeles Times , said "the film's greatest achievement is the ease with which it traverses the delicate territory of its characters’ lives without losing the sense of a past both shared and fractured in memory." [8] In a less positive review, The Guardian 's Phuong Le wrote, "Despite its flaws, See You Then is an interesting opportunity to see trans talents in front of and behind the camera." [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Miracle on 34th Street</i> 1947 film by George Seaton

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 American Christmas comedy-drama film released by 20th Century-Fox, written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies. It stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. The story takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City, and focuses on the effect of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa. The film has become a perennial Christmas favorite.

<i>The Fast and the Furious</i> (2001 film) 2001 action film directed by Rob Cohen

The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 action film directed by Rob Cohen from a screenplay by Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist, and David Ayer, based on the Vibe magazine article "Racer X" by Ken Li. The first installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, it stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick Yune, Chad Lindberg, Johnny Strong, and Ted Levine. In the film, undercover cop Brian O'Conner (Walker) infiltrates a street racing crew to investigate a series of hijackings and finds himself developing a complex friendship with the group's leader, Dominic Toretto (Diesel).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naomi Watts</span> British actress (born 1968)

Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. After her family moved to Australia, she made her film debut there in the drama For Love Alone (1986). She appeared in three television series, Hey Dad..! (1990), Brides of Christ (1991), and Home and Away (1991), and the film Flirting (1991). Ten years later, Watts moved to the United States, where she initially struggled as an actress. She took roles in small-scale films until she starred in her breakthrough role as an aspiring actress in David Lynch's psychological thriller Mulholland Drive in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Holofcener</span> American director and screenwriter

Nicole Holofcener is an American film and television director and screenwriter. She has directed seven feature films, including Walking and Talking, Friends with Money and Enough Said, as well as various television series. Along with Jeff Whitty, Holofcener received a 2019 Academy Award nomination for Adapted Screenplay, a BAFTA nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sian Heder</span> American writer and filmmaker (born 1977)

Siân Heder is an American filmmaker who is best known for writing and directing the films Tallulah and CODA. CODA earned Heder an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur.

The 12th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards were announced on 13 December 1986 and given on 29 January 1987.

<i>Sliver</i> (film) 1993 film by Phillip Noyce

Sliver is a 1993 American erotic thriller film starring Sharon Stone, William Baldwin, and Tom Berenger. It is based on the Ira Levin novel of the same name about the mysterious occurrences in a privately owned New York high-rise sliver building. Phillip Noyce directed the film, from a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas. Because of a major battle with the MPAA, the filmmakers were forced to make extensive reshoots before release which necessitated changing the killer's identity.

<i>Circumstance</i> (2011 film) 2011 film

Circumstance is a 2011 French-Iranian-American dramatic film written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz starring Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai and Keon Alexander. It explores homosexuality in modern Iran, among other subjects.

<i>Starlet</i> (film) 2012 film

Starlet is a 2012 independent drama film directed by Sean Baker and starring Dree Hemingway and newcomer Besedka Johnson. Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane and 85-year-old Sadie, two women whose lives intersect in California's San Fernando Valley.

Trần Thị Hà Phương better known as Hà Phương, is a Vietnamese singer. She is the second oldest sister of three singing sisters: Cẩm Ly, who runs a Saigon record company, and Vietnamese pop star Minh Tuyết.

<i>Upstream Color</i> 2013 science fiction film by Shane Carruth

Upstream Color is a 2013 American experimental science fiction film written, directed, produced by and starring Shane Carruth. The film is the second feature directed by Carruth, following his 2004 debut Primer. It also stars Amy Seimetz, Andrew Sensenig and Thiago Martins.

<i>Short Term 12</i> 2013 film by Destin Daniel Cretton

Short Term 12 is a 2013 American independent drama film written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is adapted from Cretton's short film of the same name, produced in 2009. The film stars Brie Larson as Grace Howard, a young supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers. The film was the first leading performance of Larson's career.

<i>Farah Goes Bang</i> 2013 film

Farah Goes Bang is a 2013 American road-trip comedy directed by Meera Menon, and written by Menon and Laura Goode. The film was produced by Goode, Erica Fishman, Danielle Firoozi, and Liz Singh. The film was Menon's feature film debut and premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival where it won The Nora Ephron Prize. The film was picked up for distribution by Seed&Spark, and received a VOD release in April 2015.

<i>Shut In</i> (2016 film) 2016 film

Shut In is a 2016 psychological horror thriller film directed by Farren Blackburn, written by Christina Hodson, and starring Naomi Watts, Oliver Platt, Charlie Heaton, Jacob Tremblay, David Cubitt, and Clémentine Poidatz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stella Meghie</span> Canadian filmmaker

Stella Meghie is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. She is known for her feature films Jean of the Joneses (2016), Everything, Everything (2017), The Weekend (2018), and The Photograph (2020). Meghie has also directed episodes for television series including Grown-ish, Insecure and First Wives Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica M. Thompson</span> Film and television writer, director, editor, and producer

Jessica M. Thompson is an Australian film and television writer, director, editor, and producer. She lives in Los Angeles.

Numa Perrier is a Haitian-American actress, artist, director, writer, and producer. She is a co-founder of Black&Sexy TV and started her production company titled, "House of Numa". Her debut feature film, Jezebel, premiered at SXSW in 2019. Her sophomore film, the Netflix romantic comedy The Perfect Find premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival where it received the Audience Award for Narrative Film.

<i>Lapsis</i> 2020 film by Noah Hutton

Lapsis is a 2020 American dystopian science fiction film written, directed, edited, and scored by Noah Hutton. It stars Dean Imperial as a delivery man who turns to quantum cabling, a strange new corner of the gig economy, and faces a pivotal choice to either help his fellow workers or to get rich and get out. It also stars Madeline Wise, Babe Howard, Dora Madison, Ivory Aquino, Frank Wood, James McDaniel, and Arliss Howard.

<i>The Peoples Joker</i> 2022 American film

The People's Joker is a 2022 American parody superhero film directed by Vera Drew, and written by Drew and Bri LeRose. The film unofficially parodies characters from the Batman comics, and the main character is a transgender woman based on the Joker, played by Drew. The film also features Scott Aukerman, Tim Heidecker, Maria Bamford, David Liebe Hart, Robert Wuhl, and Bob Odenkirk in supporting roles. The film premiered on September 13, 2022, at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, but planned screenings of the film were canceled due to "rights issues".

<i>The Idea of You</i> 2024 film by Michael Showalter

The Idea of You is a 2024 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jennifer Westfeldt, based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee. Starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, it chronicles the love affair between a single mother and the lead singer of a popular boy band.

References

  1. ↑ Headley, Kara (March 16, 2021). "SXSW 2021 Women Directors: Meet Mari Walker – See You Then". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ Saito, Stephen (April 1, 2022). "Mari Walker on Having a Clear Vision for See You Then". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  3. ↑ Solzman, Danielle (March 16, 2022). "SXSW 2021: See You Then". Solzy at the Movies. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (March 18, 2022). "Breaking Glass Pictures to Release See You Then This April". Broadway World . Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  5. ↑ "See You Then". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ "See You Then". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Allen, Nick (April 1, 2022). "See You Then". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ Black, Sarah-Tai (March 31, 2022). "Review: Two lovers meet up a decade after breaking up in compassionate drama See You Then" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  9. ↑ Le, Phuong (April 4, 2022). "See You Then review – bitterness bubbles up as old lovers meet". The Guardian . Retrieved April 17, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.