TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2017 // A FILM REVIEW OF "FLOWER"

BY DANIELLE BECKMANN

We open on our lead, Erica Vandross (portrayed by the fresh, funny, and unpredictable Zoey Deutch), doing normal 17-year-old stuff, like performing fellatio on a cop in his car. Wait. Is this normal? This made me reflect on my own childhood—was I this reckless at age 17? Were children of past decades this fearless in their teens? The reckless carelessness of a teenager is depicted so truthfully in Flower, that one can’t help but feel embarrassed and awkward along with the characters throughout the film. It becomes clear early on that Erica uses her sexuality to get what she wants—enough money to bail her long lost father out of jail.

FLOWER is set in modern day, but there is a vintage feel about it that makes it timeless, as if this could be any 17-year-old girl navigating feelings of wanting love, acceptance, and parents who love her unconditionally. The films tone is very current as it rings of the Netflix mega-hit Stranger Things, just add a pack of girls and subtract aliens. The girls ride bikes, go to the mall, scam cops, and hang out at the local bowling alley where they ogle at the "hot older guy" (an earnest Adam Scott). We see Erica’s mother (portrayed by the hilariously genuine Kathryn Hahn) try desperately to be the cool, hip mom, as she brings her new fiancé into their home. Erica’s life soon gets turned upside down as her soon-to-be-step-dad’s son Luke (Joey Morgan), fresh out of rehab, joins the picture. But once Erica finds out a surprising connection between Luke and the "hot older guy", the adventure of the film kicks off. Deutch steals our hearts through her enchantingly bold, electric, and unpredictably refreshing performance. Flower took me on a journey, and isn’t that what we all want out of the movies?

DANIELLE'S VERDICT: SEE IT

Written by Alex Mcaulay, Max Winkler, & Matt Spicer Directed by Max Winkler Starring Zoey Deutch, Kathryn Hahn, Tim Heidecker, Adam Scott, Joey Morgan, Dylan Gelula Country: USA

For ticket and screening information: https://tribecafilm.com/festival/

The Tribeca Film Festival, running April 19-30th in New York City, offers an assortment of riches when it comes to films. Documentaries, Feature Films, International Films, TV, VR technology, and more. As stated on their website, "Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Tribeca has evolved from an annual event to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan to a gathering place for filmmakers, artists, innovators, and the global creative community." The ArtsWire Weekly has been covering the festival since 2013 and this year, Mateo Moreno and Danielle Beckmann will be our voices on from the fest.