AUSTIN, TEXAS — At film festivals, a common theme can be observed in some of the films that are premiered. The South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, which will continue until this Saturday (3/16), has a noticeable thread of stories about grief and loss.
Two SXSW films that stand out, both of which deal with this subject matter, are Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ My Dead Friend Zoe (which is currently seeking distribution) and Ned Benson’s The Greatest Hits (limited theatrical release on April 5, followed by a streaming release on Hulu on April 12, by Searchlight Pictures).
Both films do a remarkable job of capturing the emotional process that comes with experiencing grief and loss. Instead of focusing solely on the tragedy and potentially alienating the audience with something too heavy to bear, each film finds a beautifully authentic way into your heart, whether through exploring the relationships between family members or through the power of music.
THE GREATEST HITS
Director: Ned Benson
Cast: Lucy Boynton, Justin H. Min, David Corenswet, Austin Crute, Andie Ju, and Retta
Premiered Mar. 14 @ 11:45 a.m. at the Paramount Theatre.
This premise could have been easily mishandled in less capable hands, but filmmaker Ned Benson (known for The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby trilogy and co-penning Black Widow) expertly captures the essence of a heartfelt story that doesn’t rely on familiar drama to keep the audience engaged. Instead, The Greatest Hits gracefully explores themes of loss and forgiveness, offering an emotional throughline that resonates deeply with viewers. Benson’s directing shapes a rewarding film that feels like a mixtape worth revisiting time and time again for its therapeutic benefits and fun-to-be-around characters.
The film centers on Harriet (portrayed by the talented Lucy Boynton from Sing Street and Bohemian Rhapsody). Harriet is trying to come to terms with the loss of her boyfriend (played by David Corenswet, who will soon be James Gunn’s Superman). However, she discovers that certain songs can transport her back in time to relive romantic memories with him. This miraculous event often expands Harriet’s heart, but it also keeps her living in the past. This becomes a problem when she meets David (played by the equally talented Justin H. Min from After Yang and Beef), a new love interest who has also experienced loss. Can Harriet truly change the past, and if she can, should she?
The Greatest Hits poses thought-provoking questions that never let the complexities of time travel overshadow the narrative. Like SXSW darling Safety Not Guaranteed, it prioritizes its characters and the profound emotions of love over the sci-fi elements. The film showcases meaningful dialogues about navigating anxiety and the choices we make to clean up life’s messes.
Each character, from Harriet to her friends, contributes significantly to the central journey, enhancing the naturalism that permeates the film. A particularly poignant scene between Harriet and one of her friends (played by Booksmart‘s Austin Crute) delves into the beauty of personal growth and the risks of twisting fate. The film echoes the audience’s thoughts, making the unfolding of its narrative a thrilling experience.
Benson skillfully creates a film that feels both tightly knit and expansive. Instead of dedicating the first half-hour to exploring Harriet’s past relationship, Benson uses tender images of the characters together over the years to paint a complete picture.
The film’s excellent soundtrack works in tandem with the characters on screen, much like in Drake Doremus’ Like Crazy. You can feel the history between the characters in a matter of seconds with how Benson elects to frame the talent and what they communicate through their eyes and body language. Take, for instance, one sweet scene between Harriet and David at a silent DJ party that just warms your heart.
The Greatest Hits is an emotionally rewarding experience showcasing music’s power. It’s a poetically visceral gem about love, compassion, and emotional trauma, with a captivating style that treats every shot like a beat in a song.
Grade: A-
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE
Director: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Gloria Reuben, and Morgan Freeman
Premiered Mar. 9 @ 3:00 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre and Mar. 13 @ 11:30 a.m. at the ZACH Theatre.
My Dead Friend Zoe stands out from other films that tackle PTSD, offering a unique perspective that avoids the pitfalls of being punishingly heavy or melodramatic. In his feature debut, writer and director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes blends comedy and tender drama like a seasoned pro, creating a film that lands with memorable impact.
As the film’s title suggests, we’re dropped into a dark comedy-drama about two friends, one of whom is deceased. My Dead Friend Zoe follows a veteran named Merit (a powerful Sonequa Martin-Green of Star Trek: Discovery and The Walking Dead) with complicated family dynamics due to the presence of the titular Zoe (a comedically sharp Natalie Morales of Parks and Recreation and Dead to Me), her dead best friend from her Army days.
Adding to the emotional complexity, Merit’s estranged grandfather, portrayed by the great Ed Harris, is at a point where he can no longer care for himself. Merit is torn between helping her grandfather and dealing with her own grief. Will she be able to find a balance, or will she have to make a difficult choice?
One standout aspect of My Dead Friend Zoe is how the film’s tone invites many true-to-life observations. Hausmann-Stokes brings his own experience as an Army soldier to the film. But he also understands friendship and the challenges of being on different life paths. A scene about how friends can sometimes grow apart, “see each other once a year and occasionally like each other’s Facebook statuses” struck an emotional chord. This is a film where friendship, family relations and heartache are delved into insightfully as the emotional journey goes from raw and tender to rib-ticklingly enjoyable.
None of these words and moments would land with the force that they do if it weren’t for the extraordinary cast. Martin-Green is as powerful and commanding as her story progresses to the point where she must stop putting off the inevitable and coasting in neutral. She brings a forceful vulnerability to Merit that captivates, making the audience feel deeply connected to her character’s journey.
As Zoe, Morales doesn’t leave the film without a short supply of laughter. But she’s not there solely to generate laughs. Morales can make viewers think and feel about Zoe’s fears and concerns, such as when Zoe shares about the possibility of being forgotten.
Harris, who plays Merit’s grandfather, Dale, injects a lot of humanity into the part in nuanced ways. From how Dale handles the waste around his house to overfeeding the fish in his pond, there’s a lot on Dale’s mind, and Harris makes it heard with and without dialogue.
My Dead Friend Zoe is a cathartic and original meditation on loss and forgiveness. Hausmann-Stokes displays incredible innovation by opening up conversations about many aspects of life and making the viewers think and feel with its psychologically astute, witty, and imaginative story.
Grade: A-
