They have VailFeature Direction debut ”We strangers“Not only had the premiere at SXSW 2024but soon became a critically acclaimed hit – even serve the sought after IndieWire Critics’ Pick title after its debut.
Now, with Quiver distribution that releases the function, the audience can experience the snody genre everywhere that is invoiced as “coming out” with a mental twist. Kirby Howell-Baptiste Stars like Rayelle Martin, a knowledgeable commercial cleaner who soon realizes that there is more money to have after working for one of her office clients (Hari Dhillon). Still, Rayelle’s ambition may have unforeseen consequences …
The official synopsis reads: “Inspired by director Valia’s own childhood in Gary, Indiana, there film Is canceled, “We Strangers” follows Rayelle (Howell-Baptiste), a young commercial cleaning woman who is offered a second job of cleaning home for several rich, suburban families. To blend into her new surroundings, she accidentally tells a white lie, which then turns power dynamics in curious ways. This absorbent character study goes smartly into the world of identity and privilege and shows us the challenges that are baked to navigate in different spaces. “Paul Adelstein, Sarah Goldberg, Maria Dizzia and Tina Lifford also play.
“We Strangers” won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Story at New Orleans Film Festival, New Hampshire Film Festival and Gary Black Film Festival and was an enlightened film at Provincetown International Film Festival. Valia also won the Breakthrough Award at the Athena Film Festival in conjunction with Barnard College, among many other awards.
The Indieviewer review of Christian Zilko considered that the film was a “comedy of manners where navigation of the neuroses of her rich protectors is more challenging than any amount of cleaning,” adds, “it is elegant without ever being lick, manages to exist in Rayelle’s new world of material comfort without ever becoming a product. directing expensive TV sections Prepared her well for the pursuit, as each frame is composed in a way that elegant layer stores the film’s themes on top of each other. Howell-Baptiste anchors the film with an exciting nuanced performance, seamless transitions from a character that is expected to be seen and has not heard into someone who has the limelight shocks on them at the most unmatched moment. Her facial expression reveals an emotional metronome that is constantly changing between discomfort, machiavellianism and sincere guilt as they try to perform the infinite balance measure that goes into her daily survival. ”
Valia told Indiewire that “we strangers” completely embodied empathy shown by the film itself. “I’ve always been interested in the social and political structures of American society,” Valia said. “The unwritten rules that each society follows have always beat me as at the same time fascinating and odd. Film has the ability to explore the subtitle between people in incredible ways, and I wanted to look at how assimilating makes a person feel. For others.
She added by the feature, I strive to create a story that holds on to you. With the title sequence we played with “Afterimage”, the picture that stays behind your eyes after a picture is gone. As when you look at something bright and the picture is seared to your eyes for a few seconds after. This movie is meant to be like it – I wanted to create a picture that Audience when it comes out in theaters.
When it comes to Casting Howell-Baptiste in the lead role, Valia explained how “in reverence” she was by the actress. “She is a dream employee. She knew exactly what I was trying to explore, and she took the role in directions that I couldn’t even imagine,” Valia said about how Howell-Baptiste brought the nature of Rayelle to life. “She created a single, full person who just shows us who she wants us to see – she wears masks, but it is almost impossible to tell when she has one on. It’s so deceptively simple what she does, but I know the hard work that went into that performance, and that is something I am in revered and very grateful for.”
In turn, Howell-Baptiste told IndieWire that work with Valia was an ideal partnership. “I fell in love very quickly how Anu tells a story,” Howell-Baptiste said. “Anu has a wonderful way to take big, sometimes even fraging ideas and present them without bias and without prejudice. Anu and I created something that is now going out into the world and has a life of my own. I had the privilege of living as Rayelle.”
Quiver distribution will debut “We Strangers” in limited theaters August 22 and will launch on September 9 at VOD. Check out the trailer below.
