‘Stress Positions’ Review: Where So Many Have Failed, This Team Delivers a Hilarious Pandemic Comedy
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Building on the promise of her short film “My Trip to Spain,” which played Sundance in 2022, filmmaker Theda Hammel returns to the festival with her feature debut, “Stress Positions.” Joined by favorite collaborator and lead actor John Early, she brings along the same wry sharp humor and the same incisive parody of her generation, only this time, Hammel is playing on a bigger canvas, directing a larger cast and tackling more topics and themes. Among other things, the film might be the first genuinely enjoyable film made about the pandemic.
Set entirely within a few days in the summer of 2020, “Stress Positions” follows Terry Goon (Early) as he navigates a rather stressful few weeks. Recently divorced and unemployed, he’s living in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone, scared out of his mind about getting infected with Covid. At the same time, he’s caring for 19-year-old nephew Bahlul (Qaher Harhash...
Set entirely within a few days in the summer of 2020, “Stress Positions” follows Terry Goon (Early) as he navigates a rather stressful few weeks. Recently divorced and unemployed, he’s living in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone, scared out of his mind about getting infected with Covid. At the same time, he’s caring for 19-year-old nephew Bahlul (Qaher Harhash...
- 1/23/2024
- by Murtada Elfadl
- Variety Film + TV
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After providing coverage on nearly every feature premiering at Sundance this year and sharing our top picks, today we take a deeper look at our favorite shorts from a number of contributors.
Appendage (Anna Zlokovic)
Shiva Baby breakout Rachel Sennott stars in this horror-comedy as a young fashion designer feeling the pressure from her boss (a delightfully fay Eric Roberts) to come up with a great idea before her just-starting career is in jeopardy. Alone at home with the blank page in front of her, self-doubt and anxiety appears as a growth in her side, chastising every thought and decision. Anyone, especially those in creative fields, can relate to that sensation of nagging insecurity and imposter syndrome, which Anna Zlokovic captures here in wonderfully grotesque fashion. And yet, as Appendage shows, oftentimes it’s exactly this pain that can push you to find your most enlightened inspirations. — Mitchell B.
Deerwoods...
Appendage (Anna Zlokovic)
Shiva Baby breakout Rachel Sennott stars in this horror-comedy as a young fashion designer feeling the pressure from her boss (a delightfully fay Eric Roberts) to come up with a great idea before her just-starting career is in jeopardy. Alone at home with the blank page in front of her, self-doubt and anxiety appears as a growth in her side, chastising every thought and decision. Anyone, especially those in creative fields, can relate to that sensation of nagging insecurity and imposter syndrome, which Anna Zlokovic captures here in wonderfully grotesque fashion. And yet, as Appendage shows, oftentimes it’s exactly this pain that can push you to find your most enlightened inspirations. — Mitchell B.
Deerwoods...
- 2/2/2022
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
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