Sundance Film Festival 2023: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING & A LITTLE PRAYER

Even though a film might be quietly restrained, it has no bearings over their potential emotional impact. Both Sometimes I Think About Dying and A Little Prayer are prime examples of films that steer away from heavy handed dramatic narration, while still offering a very robust emotional underscore. Two great examples of quiet storytelling done well at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Sometimes I Think About Dying (Rachel Lambert)

Quirky, quaint, and full of quiet melancholia, Rachel Lambert’s Sometimes I Think About Dying is a wonderfully unique story on loneliness and isolation. It’s one of those films that doesn’t seem to say much on the surface but slowly envelops your emotions in an unexpected way. Lambert’s quiet narration might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the film is certainly not lacking in creative integrity and finds a way to demand one’s attention unassumingly. And if nothing else, the film serves as a platform for Daisy Ridley to shine in what has been a rather quiet filmography since starring in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Ridley plays Fran, a reserved office worker who spends her day mulling over spreadsheets while thinking about her impending doom. These internalized thoughts are upended when she develops a relationship with Robert (Dave Merheje), who’s new to the office. This thin plotline serves as an engine for the film to explore the awkward and misunderstood mental space housed by Fran, which seems to provide her with both solace and distress.

Fran isn’t a character that’s necessarily easy to play, but Ridley finds a way to channel a sense of empathy towards someone who is clearly flawed and disengaged with regular emotions. It’s not completely clear what Fran is thinking, but there’s no question that her intentions are genuine if somewhat misaligned from conventional norms. Ridley does wonders with the relative lack of dialogue she has to work with, using subtle nods and expressions that really speaks to her talents as an actress. Merheje is also quite effective, and masterfully animates comedic moments from awkward situations.

Lambert has essentially created an environment that is conducive to quiet thoughts, and even stagnates her framing and camera movements. Surprisingly, these choices don’t necessarily restrict the film’s narrative voice, and if anything, helps form a cohesive vision of Fran’s world and invites you to take part in it. Sometimes I Think About Dying paints a very sombre picture of isolation and mental anguish, without ever identifying a specific ailment. The film is a thoughtful reflection on inner loneliness and is crafted in a way that normalizes what its protagonist is experiencing. Lambert directs with confidence, and should be lauded for creating something so unique and captivating.

A Little Prayer (Angus MacLachlan)

Far too often, films about the deep South are marred by stereotypical depictions of stories and characters that tend to veer in the realm of melodrama. Angus MacLachlan’s A Little Prayer is a tender and heartwarming film that sidesteps any loud stereotypes, instead favouring a gentler consciousness that’s full of empathy. The film follows a family in Wintston-Salem, North Carolina, where Tammy (Jane Levy) and David (Will Pullen) seem to have a healthy relationship while living in the same home as David’s parents, Bill (David Strathairn) and Venida (Celia Weston). But as with any family, there’s usually more beneath the surface and MacLaclan slowly peels back the layers on this domestic narrative.

A Little Prayer is anchored by a restrained screenplay that doesn’t shy away from difficult moments, yet manages to avoid spiraling into a dramatic farce void of compassion. We’re simply witnessing characters do their very best with what they have, with no promise of a perfect ending. The story isn’t necessarily tied up with a neat bow, but there’s sentiments of hope with a slight flicker of brightness, despite the circumstances.

Having characters you want to root for plays a big part here, and the film bolsters a very strong cast. Strathairn and Levy, in particular, are absolutely fantastic and help ground the film’s emotional realism. MacLachlan’s simplistic framing and choice of locale adds to the rather clean canvas that his actors are able to create life in. There are few distractions to deter one from truly reflecting on the story’s emotional beats, and experiencing said beats through a broader social context.

While not the loudest and most showy of films, A Little Prayer is a surprisingly quiet narrative that’s instilled with dramatic force. It resists doing what most films of this nature tend to do, and its gravitational pull away from anything overtly melodramatic creates a wonderfully contextual piece of storytelling. The film is also a reminder that both Strathairn and Levy do not get nearly as much work as they should.