This article needs a plot summary.(August 2023) |
Young. Wild. Free. | |
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Directed by | Thembi Banks |
Written by | Juel Taylor Tony Rettenmaier |
Produced by |
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Starring | Algee Smith |
Cinematography | Cary Lalonde Dennis Zanatta |
Edited by | Lindsay Armstrong |
Release date |
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Running time | 113 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Young. Wild. Free. is a 2023 American drama film written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, directed by Thembi Banks and starring Algee Smith. It is Banks' feature directorial debut. [1] [2] [3]
A teenager struggling to provide for his younger siblings in Compton finds his life turned upside down when he's held at gunpoint by the girl of his dreams.
According to Banks, the first day of filming occurred on March 11, 2020 and then filming was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] In August 2022, it was reported that production on the film was underway in Los Angeles. [5]
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in the Library Center Theater on January 22, 2023. [6] [7]
The film has a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on fifteen reviews. [8]
Tomris Laffly of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "An Uncertain Script Saddles a Stylish Coming-of-Age Movie Full of Los Angeles Love." [9]
Esther Zuckerman of IndieWire graded the film a C− and wrote, "Trust me, you’ve heard this one before." [10]
Patrice Witherspoon of Screen Rant awarded the film four stars out of five. [6]
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Thembi L. Banks is an American filmmaker. She directed the 2023 feature film Young. Wild. Free., which is her feature directorial debut. She has been nominated for an Emmy for her work in Only Murders in the Building.