Sam Haye’s directorial debut feature, Pools, is the 2024 SXSW Sydney Audience Award Winner and had the North American Premiere at TIFF Next Wave earlier this month. Pools had a sold-out screening at the festival that features a breakout performance from Odessa A’zion (Until Dawn, “Ghosts” TV series, Sitting in Bars with Cake, Hellraiser, “Nashville” TV series) as Kennedy in a script described as a coming-of-age story, but after viewing it, I felt it is so much deeper emotionally than what has been written before (especially in the recent past). As film fans can see from the variety of roles and genres A’zion has performed, she has an excellent range of talent for horror, comedy and drama. It is no doubt why the film is an audience award winner, given her performance and the engaging number of cast members that bring this story to life.
Synopsis: Kennedy (Odessa A’zion) has one day to get her shit together or get kicked out of school for good. Instead of buckling down, she rallies a ragtag crew for a midnight pool-hopping adventure through the lavish estates of her college town. But under the surface, Kennedy is searching for answers to the questions tearing her up inside in the wake of her father’s death. As the secrets spill, this wild escape becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery.
Cast: Pools has a strong ensemble of talent, including Mason Gooding (Heart Eyes, Y2K, Scream/Scream VI, Booksmart), Tyler Alvarez (“Ghosts,” “Never Have I Ever,” “American Vandal” TV series), Ariel Winter (Don’t Log Off, “Modern Family” TV series), Michael Vlamis (“Roswell: New Mexico” TV series, Crossword, Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey,), Francesca Noel (R#J, “Goosebumps” TV series), and Suzanne Cryer (“Silicon Valley” HBO, “All Rise” TV series).
In addition to its exceptional cast, Pools features an impressive soundtrack that includes an original score by renowned Grammy-nominated composer and pop artist Cody Fry. The soundtrack also debuts original songs written and performed by A’zion. Music from Grammy-nominated songwriter trio LionChld, Lane 8, Thumpasaurus, and others are also included, under the music supervision of Peymon Maskan (The Fallout, Monkey Man, A Man in Full).
Ben Hardwicke’s cinematography is quite impressive, especially when it captures a very emotional Kennedy underwater, even when surrounded by others. Kennedy is superb when she is verbally saying she is fine and yet we can tell she is falling apart inside. I can see how this can happen to anyone when they have the weight of such grief, no matter what stage of life we are at.
Source: SXSW Sydney, TIFF Next Wave, nofilmschool.com
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