Grassland Reads More Like a Thriller, Slanted Towards Thought
The film visually fools the viewers with its nostalgic and welcoming aesthetic. The viewer is drawn into the story via the eyes of a child, and this universe can contain equal volumes of magic and horror. Though she is a drug dealer, Leo's (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) mother Sofia (Mía Maestro) is hardly a criminal mastermind. The economic crisis has severely affected her, hence she wants to make money as fast and neatly as possible. From 2024, her stance seems clear-cut since more American states legalize marijuana.
But this isn't 2024; Grassland knows that people are wrongly persecuted both outside and inside the bubbles of legality. Though first startling, the 3:4 aspect ratio makes perfect sense given the movie's topics and aesthetic appeal. The directors clearly know Xavier Dolan's work. Luckily, these artistic decisions bring us in rather than send us out of the movie. The tiny cast causes the images to become familiar fast, therefore highlighting the performances. The film's narrative is clearly character-driven even if its societal messages take front stage.
Though It Treads Familiar Ground, Grassland Has an Impact
One could argue that Grassland's narrative structure is flawed since the inevitable conclusion of the story flies too near to predictability. The scenario is not particularly original, and its dangers are all too obvious to American viewers who have witnessed the plot develop live. The film's point of view is dependability, but it could have pushed farther. Although the times when violence is used are exactly timed for maximum impact, this does not mean greater violence; the character's decisions fall short sometimes.
Audiences will very certainly see more of Bermudez and Friedman; this is merely their start. The range of injustices they can address will be unbounded given more funds and resources at their disposal. But as they climb, it seems doubtful they would overlook the value of sharing little stories since they so readily become major ones. Although grasslands might not be innovative, we are in good hands if they indicate the direction the future generation of filmmakers is headed.
Grassland: This Searing, Anxiety-Inducing Drama Has Not Forgotten The 2008 Crash
Grassland, set against the height of the 2008 Financial Crisis, is a sobering reminder of how little has changed and a remembrance of the toll that era inflicted on people. The film aims to involve the audience in the dialog, and mostly it succeeds as directly in conversation with the criminal profiling that led and still leads Black and Latinx people to be mass imprisoned. Seeing the movie via the prism of 2024 allows one to quickly make connections between the violence on screen and the violence one encounters in daily life.
Under the direction of William Bermudez and Sam Friedman, the directors are transparent about their personal ties to the narrative, and this human element shows. In movies, grassland comes at a fascinating point since those who came of age after the 2008 recession are only starting to sort through their experiences from that period. Suffice it to say, it's much different from the parties and conspiracies of movies like The Big Short, which are so fast to forget the people who lost their homes, freedom, and lives. One feature all these initiatives have, nevertheless, is their inevitable end.
The Individuals Driving the Story
Even if these diversions from the film's underlying worry were only fleeting, I found myself caught in the imaginative world they retreated to during play.
Grassland asks a lot of Cabot-Conyers and Sean Convery, who respectively play Leo and Tom, and they, particularly Cabot-Conyers, meet the high standard the narrative sets. Even if these breaks from the underlying tension of the film were just fleeting, I found myself captivated in the imagined world they retreated into during play. For Leo, Brandon (Quincy Isaiah) is a devoted friend and playmate; I could have watched a movie just centred on this character and Isaiah's performance. It's easy to miss Brandon's comfort when his persona vanishes from focus.
Grassland: An Examining View of the Past
John (Jeff Kober) is easy to hate since his entrance in the film marks the start of the end to the delicate balance Sofia and Leo have maintained. A cop living downstairs is the worst thing a drug dealer could have, and John readily lives up to the anxiety his job title causes. Grassland, however, rejects to present a black-and- white photo of any character in the film. Although John is the villain and adversary, his losses and efforts to assimilate into the modern society remind the viewers that he is a human rather than a nameless, faceless monster.
Centering on the dangers of marijuana incarceration, Grassland is a drama thriller. William Bermudez and Sam Friedman directed the movie; Jeff Kober, Rachel Ticotin, and Mía Maestro star.
The Public Premiere of the Film
June 2nd Grassland premiere at Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
The release of the movie is expected since it seems to be a fascinating fresh addition for movies. The movie has a unique take on the subject it is tackling, and the acting of the ensemble cast gives excellent thrills about it.
