In a year that was completely batshit crazy and unpredictable, we still had quite a few solid films find their way to film festivals (often digital) even when the film industry seemed to completely shut down. And one of our favorite festival films from last year, the under-the-radar gem, “Sophie Jones,” is finally making its way to theaters and VOD, giving film fans the opportunity to discover one of the best indie coming-of-age films in recent memory.
READ MORE: ‘Sophie Jones’ Is Indie Coming-Of-Age At Its Best [Review]
As seen in the trailer for “Sophie Jones,” the film (unsurprisingly) follows the story of young Sophie, a 16-year-old girl that is dealing with the grief of losing her mother unexpectedly. This all is compounded by all the typical issues associated with being a teenager. The film is directed by Jessie Barr, who co-wrote the feature with her cousin Jessica Barr. And adding to the personal nature of the film, Jessica Barr also leads the cast, playing the title character.
In our review of “Sophie Jones” from last year, we said, “On the whole, though, ‘Sophie Jones’ is exactly what it needs to be: A quiet, brilliant film, elegant in its smallness. In the overstuffed indie coming-of-age subgenre, ‘Sophie Jones’ makes an unassuming, honest contribution. Which is exactly what it needed to do to stand out among the endless pomp and quirk.”
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“Sophie Jones” arrives in select theaters and VOD on March 2. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Inspired by true experiences of grief, girlhood, and growing up, Jessie Barr’s Sophie Jones provides a stirring portrait of a sixteen year old. Stunned by the untimely death of her mother and struggling with the myriad challenges of teendom, Sophie (played with striking immediacy by the director’s cousin Jessica Barr) tries everything she can to feel something again, while holding herself together, in this sensitive, acutely realized, and utterly relatable coming-of-age story.