Astonishing debut.

Well that wasn't an easy watch. I went in to this blind. Didn't even know what it was about. I just saw it recommended elsewhere. It's a really frank, candid, unsettling bit of character drama directed brilliantly by a first time filmmaker. It's actually pretty astonishing what Trey Edward Shults has done in this film.On a budget of practically nothing I expect.

The film follows an estranged Aunt making the trip back to the rest of her family for Thanksgiving. But things go wrong. Badly wrong, in ways which develop the context of the movie, the characters and the dynamics of the whole setting. It's more like a short play that delves deep into the workings of a 'semi-dysfunctional' family trying desperately to be as functional as possible.

Krisha Fairchild is absolutely barnstorming in the lead role. She nails it and it's one of the most memorable performances I've seen in the last couple of years. One scene in particular where Krisha meets an old family member is as heartbreaking as it is brutally brilliant, realistic and compelling.

I found elements of Todd Solondz and even PT Anderson in some of the early camerawork. But it actually stands on it's own as a very impressive piece of work. Film school is clearly working in some part of the world. It's inspiring, particularly the use of subtle camerawork and aspect ratios to convey the different states of mind of the lead protagonist. There is also alot of dialogue that seems improvised as conversations overlap and audio gets louder and quieter. This, along with the very minimal score just adds to the realism if anything. Watching the credits roll is when you realize that the cast is made up of rather unexpected group. I won't spoil it for others but it must give hope to loads of wannabe film-makers to watch something like this.

I'll be watching Shults' career with interest, for sure.