PRINCETON’S IN THE MIX: Anything for the Kids

It’s a common sentiment that good parents would do anything for their child. From the small sacrifices made on a daily basis to the big decisions that have to be made, it’s also said that “mother knows best.” In the worst of times, however, in those rare moments (emphasizing rare in case my mom reads this) when parents get it wrong, what do you do when you can’t convince them otherwise? Jonathan DiMaio’s latest short Princeton’s in the Mix skewers a mother’s obsession with her son’s performance on the SATS, and takes the potential consequences to an extreme.

A Mother’s Mission for Her Son’s Success

We open inside a bright, suburban home. While Teddy (Charlie Besso) practices a beautiful piece on the piano, his mother Beth (Heather Burns) cuts watermelon in a manner that builds tension with each chop. She praises his efforts, but while he’s focused on a music competition to help him get into college, she presses him to study more and meet with an SAT tutor, in between practicing piano as well as squash.

Later, while with her friends, Beth’s mind is elsewhere. She can’t stop worrying about her son’s progress and how his doctor says “he’s on the cusp for ADHD.” She had him evaluated in order to get accommodations, but “because of that Lori Loughlin crap,” she can’t get him extra time to take the test. Simon (Nate Duncan) agrees, having spent $20k on an evaluation for his child as well. However, Jane (Syra McCarthy) tells them how she bought her son cooking lessons to get him off TikTok (we cut to him using his knives to continue making juggling videos), but hurt himself “cutting zucchini” as we see him attempt to catch a knife that goes squarely through his palm. Because he nicked a tendon and has a cast for six weeks, he got extra time to take his SAT and in his practice test had a score of 1520, up from 1300. Rather than inspiring sympathy for a child’s plight, Beth and Simon are inspired to do the same for their children.

Which is, of course,  what any good parent would do…right?

Tactfully Taut with Tension

Princeton’s in the Mix deftly blends class and social satire with thriller and horror aspects, highlighting the pressures of collegiate acceptance for both parents and children. Heather Burns masterfully plays an anxious mother pushed to the brink while ensuring her son succeeds at the path she’s planned out for him. She constantly has that look in her eye, a determination that is more unnerving than anything. The short’s climax showcases not only Burns’ and Besso’s talents, but that of DiMaio as well. The writer-director uses lighting and cinematography throughout to evoke precisely the right tone, in concert with Conor Abbott Brown’s piano-centric score, that allows the jokes and jumps to land as intended. While this premise is perfectly paced for a short film, I think a feature-length look into Beth’s mind would make for a tense and interesting watch.

Princeton’s in the Mix makes its world premiere at Dances With Films June 24th.