American Spirit, a film based and filmed in Austin, World Premiered at the Austin Film Festival in October. This is the feature directorial debut from Christopher Yates. It explores questions of identity and evolving iterations of self, as well as timely conversations around the transition from youth into adulthood. Yates is the writer/director for American Spirit, with credits for three shorts in which the filmmaker also wrote and directed his script. (IMDb)
Synopsis
Melody and Jonathan dated in high school, but that was four years ago. Now dating someone new, Melody is forced to retread her past missteps and question what comes next after a chance encounter with Jonathan.
This drama, romance feature film is focused on two individuals who were dating in high school for a brief time, and now coincidentally run into each other on the University of Texas campus in Austin. They have not talked to each other in years, nor about the breakup – ever. Melody (Yasmeen Fletcher, “Ms. Marvel” TV Mini Series) and Jonathan (Cooper Roth, “Never Have I Ever” TV Series) are out at 2am after their respective events and the encounter is unexpected yet pleasant. They agree to take a walk and catch up after a slight awkwardness.
Melody seems to be all over the map in her conversation with Jonathan, yet he seems to be glad to be in her company, keeping the conversation light and gentlemanly. Fletcher is very good in portraying this character who seems to not have her act together – be it immaturity or because she is “buzzed” as she describes her behavior after coming from a party. She did a very good job of being likeable and yet, there were some scenes in the interaction with Jonathan that made me dislike the character, the more she talked. It made me want to tell Johathan to open his eyes to her abrasiveness – unkind to a degree to this young man who clearly appears to be interested in her, yet keeping his distance.
Relationships are not easy – friendship or otherwise. The years in high school are one thing and college another. Confronting the past about choices is also not good, especially when “buzzed” and catching the other individual off guard as dawn approaches. The script is well written, and the actors do a great job of showing how messy it can be when not thought through completely. Jonathan remains kind and open to hear her out after she reaches out to him after her outburst.
The cinematography by Eric Johnsen is excellent as it captures some great scenes of the campus as the two leads walk and talk, as well as off campus and in the general vicinity of campus students eating and/or gathering. He has a talent for capturing the various emotions that Melody displays in her interaction with Jonathan, as well as his happiness and the pain of her behavior.
Runtime – 1 hour and 48 minutes and follow the filmmaker to see where the film will be screened again.
Source: AFF, IMDb
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