It’s not easy to get your debut film noticed, but writer/director Rachel Lambert got a nice boost when Jeff Nichols (“Take Shelter,” “Loving”) put his name down as a producer for “In The Radiant City.” The intimate drama unspools in a similar way to Nichols’ work, but Lambert makes a strong first impression with the drama, which unfolds at a slow-burn pace before erupting into fireworks.
Starring Michael Abbott Jr., Celia Weston, Marin Ireland, Paul Sparks, and Maidsen Beaty, the film follows a family that has been torn apart by an incident in their past, and what happens when the prodigal son returns home, looking to make amends. The film was a hidden gem when it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall (here’s our review), and especially if you’re looking for something with some real substance this summer season, it’s a picture you’ll want to track down. Here’s the synopsis from TIFF:
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We meet Andrew Yurley (Michael Abbott Jr., Loving, Mud) as he is deciding to return to the town where he was born and raised. He has demons to face, and it won’t be easy. He stays in a rundown motel on the edge of town, and we wonder: Why doesn’t he stay with his family? Why doesn’t he even try at first to see his family?
The complex and deeply dramatic story of the Yurley family’s past is revealed in a patient and natural rhythm, and that cadence brings us back to the present day, when Andrew must face a significant moral question — almost as difficult as the one he faced many years ago. To arrive at his answer he must first confront his fiery sister, Laura (Marin Ireland); his niece, Beth (Madisen Beaty), who doesn’t know whether to believe the stories; and his mother, Susan (Celia Weston), old before her time and yearning to see her son.
“In the Radiant City” hits digital and On Demand on July 18th.
