If so, we’re not complaining. What a timely, and necessary movie, indeed.
This week, Film Twitter has positively erupted over behind the scenes stills of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling roller-skating their way through filmmaking power couple Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s highly anticipated Barbie. The mainstream mega movie is due for release in 2023.
Meanwhile, in the same week, a virtual unknown roller-skated into our lives from the moment she faded into the frame, and left with our hearts in tow.
On the heels of Roe v. Wade’s controversial overturn, to the chagrin of sensible minds everywhere, but to the silver-lined delight of Tribeca Film Festival followers, Cherry deserves to become the talk of the town. Of every town. Those who have not yet screened the event’s Online Premierewinning film about a pregnant twentysomething (Alexandria Trewhitt) who has 24 hours to decide whether or not to opt for an abortion had something to celebrate on an otherwise somber Friday morning when “Tribeca at Home” announced a week extension for streaming access.
Subscribers now have until Sunday, July 3 to watch Sophie Galibert’s sweet and soulful “day in the life” dramedy. Many would say the film harkens an alternate Juno (2007) timeline wherein the titular lead of that film goes ahead with “the procedure.” But like Juno, the film is much more than its synopsis. It’s a true modern day coming-of-age encapsulation of what it means to be in love with an idea, or the potential for more, and the strength it takes to not be pigeon-held by time.
The Los Angeles shot and set picture is sensitive in its approach, but not sanitized. We have a protagonist who clearly could be colored with more of her quirky proclivities in a network sitcom version of this saga.
Trewhitt’s excellence in her performance is never apologizing, either through scripted dialogue or body language, for her character’s behavior. She’s not a mess, and in fact, you’re a mess if you think she is with a “judge a book by its cover” mentality applied to her subtle pink heart face tattoo. Did you learn nothing in Kindergarten? Don’t answer that question. Trewhitt is joined in every scene by a rotating cavalcade of authentic friends, family and employers who she wants to be open to but feels reluctant to bother with something that is truly personal to her, and by her bluntest calculations, her alone. Behind both Galibert’s direction and her team’s relentless commitment to an almost documentarian aesthetic, audiences can stand to identify with Cherry even if they have no clue what it’s like to be in her specific situation. Haven’t we all felt lost several times over before?
Cherry does not ignore discomfort, rather, it lives in it, while seamlessly making you feel comfortable the whole time through the savvy combo of chuckle-inducing irreverence chased with poignant pathos. Assuming the film is made available via mass-consumable streaming or in a theater near you sooner than later, you won’t want to miss it.
Stay tuned for The Messenger’s continued coverage of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival over the coming weeks.
