Hatchlings
Directed by Jahmil Eady
Produced by Tara Austin
Written by Jahmil Eady
United States | English | 15' | Magical Realism
Sixteen-year-old REESE (Demi Singleton) has recently moved in with her father, LEN (Christian Robinson); pregnant stepmother, SHAYNA (Angela Lewis); and six-year-old half-brother, TY (Dominic Stephens). Feeling homesick and resentful, Reese plans to move back in with her biological mother but when Shayna suddenly goes into labor, Reese is forced to babysit Ty. Meanwhile, Ty, who is obsessed with turtles, escapes into a fantasy world where Reese becomes a tortoise and he becomes a sea turtle.
HATCHLINGS is one of those movies that you could see once and remember forever. Its visuals are so rich, its characters so honest, and its storytelling so resonate that you’ll find yourself discovering new favorite details from your memories. Filmmaker Jahmil Eady has such an easy command of her cinematic language that the film transcends, capturing the magic of an unfortunate coming-of-age moment with creativity and care (and stellar performances by both Demi Singleton and Dominic Stephens). As each scene unfolds you’ll find yourself leaning forward in your seat, drawn into the story of a couple turtles taking on the ocean together. I saw this film early in the screening process and have found myself thinking about it often; I emphatically recommend it.
Christopher Francis, Programmer
PLAYING WITH