Sundance Film Festival 2020 Episodic Indies
Among all of the films that are premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, there are pieces of visual media with interesting stories to tell which are told in parts. These films, with an emphasis on independent perspectives, are a part of the aptly named Indie Episodic Program. We will go over those episodics now. Starting with three that are a part of the Indie Episodic Showcase, a small subcategory.
Awkward Family Photos– The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com share their unique stories and reunite to re-create their original portraits, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. Written by William A. Kirkley, Mike Bender, and Doug Chernack and directed by William A. Kirkley.
The Ride– Wayne, a 40-year-old rideshare driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom. He discovers that the key to giving his life meaning is to help his unsuspecting passengers let go of their negative thoughts—whether they want his help or not. Directed by Linas Phillips and co-written by Joslyn Jensen.
Hey Lady!– Nothing is safe when fearlessly off-the-charts senior citizen Lady and her chain-smoking best friend embark on a rampage of urban vengeance, upturning everything in their path. Social norms, common decency, and the fourth wall of the series itself are tossed out the window. Written by Morris Panych and directed by Sarah Polley, Adriana Maggs, and Will Bowes.
Chemo Brain– Twenty-eight-year-old Oliver spends his time studying, hanging out with friends, and trying to charm his new girlfriend, Signe, when he finds out that his lower-back pain is actually testicular cancer. Rapidly shifting from mindless living to becoming a hospital regular, chemotherapy sets him on a path of introspection. Welcome distraction, if minimal nurturing, comes via his best friend, his father, and fellow patient Eva, who is facing her own diagnosis with flair. Oliver struggles between maintaining his happy-go-lucky toehold in the life he shaped for himself and honing in on what will ultimately be best for him in the world he has been thrust into. Written and directed by Kristian Håskjold and written by Johan Wang.
City So Real– As a factious mayoral election coincides with the trial of the police officer who killed Laquan McDonald, Chicago becomes a flashpoint, with the city as a tinderbox and its citizens ready to spark. The meandering camera in City So Real captures a wide swath of voices and perspectives assembled from intimate family gatherings to combustible street protests and beyond. Candidates, voters, protestors, and bystanders all weigh in, with passionate arguments and casual insights presented in equal measure, creating a broad view of a city long held as a political lightning rod. Directed by Steve James.
Embrace– Against the backdrop of Oakland, California, Iranian American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Directed by Jessica Sanders and created by Kathreen Khavari and Chuck Neal.
Laetitia– When 18-year-old Jessica finds her twin sister Laetitia’s overturned scooter outside their foster parents’ home, it quickly becomes clear that something is terribly wrong. French police swiftly reconstruct the young girl’s final hours, leading to the arrest of lifelong criminal Tony Meilhon. Though investigators are convinced they have the right man, they are woefully unable to locate an integral piece of evidence: his victim’s body. The sordid details of this heinous crime develop into a focal point for the national media, drawing the attention of politicians at the highest level and leading to intense scrutiny of the country’s legal system. Written and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and written by Antoine Lacomblez.
Untitled Pizza Movie– In the early 1990s, David Shapiro and Leeds Atkinson, lifelong friends from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, set out to find the perfect slice of the city’s biggest commodity—pizza. Under the guise of filming a TV series titled Eat to Win, Dave and Leeds traversed pizzerias throughout their rapidly changing city until they found a favorite: Lombardi’s, widely acknowledged as the first pizzeria in the country.
There they discovered Andrew Bellucci, a passionate chef whose humble beginnings as a short-order cook at a bingo parlor segued into an unlikely role as a darling of the New York food world. When they discover that Bellucci had been a Wall Street criminal imprisoned after an FBI investigation, their project takes an unexpected turn. The two friends drift apart, and their film goes unfinished. Directed and written by David Shapiro.
