Good One
Fiction, 2024, 89′
31/01 Sat | 5:00pm | Room 3
Written and directed by India Donaldson
Cinematography by Wilson Cameron
Cast Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Sundance, Cannes (Directors’ Fortnight), New Directors/New Films (NY), Zurich, London, São Paulo, Stockholm (Official Selection); best directorial debut (National Board of Review); nomination for best screenplay (Independent Spirit Awards); jury award (Champs-Élysées) (2024)
In Good One, the witty debut film by India Donaldson, 17-year old Sam takes off on a three-day backpacking trip through the Catskill mountains with her dad and his best friend. The two men quickly develop a fraternal dynamic during the hike, exposing old wounds. Sam, being precocious for her age, tries to mediate the conflict of egos between the two, but her frustration peaks when some lines are crossed and her confidence is betrayed. The film captures a universal moment, in which the parental bond is broken forever and, during the process, masterfully paints a humorous, realistic and deeply moving portrait of female adolescence.