Love & Redemption-WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?
By Daniel Mendes, TheCineBuff.com
Alex is a creative, precocious, 16-year-old who feels like her parents don’t quite understand her. One day, she discovers a letter written to her mother from her birth father and sets out on a quest to find her dad and discover more about herself. Ben Epstein’s Who Are You People is an unflinching and emotionally challenging look at family and redemption.
Ema Horvath’s performance as Alex is a sight to behold. With only a handful of credits to her name, she carries herself with a level of gravitas rarely found in young actors. Horvath spends the entire film acting alongside seasoned actors like Alyssa Milano and Devon Sawa, and she acquits herself well.
Complementing Horvath’s impressive performance is Devon Sawa as Karl, Alex’s biological father, a deeply damaged man who tries to find forgiveness for the wrongs he has done. The film hinges on the relationship between Alex and Karl and luckily, both performers play off each other well and have a natural, father-daughter chemistry.
The film doesn’t hold back in presenting its characters in an unfavorable light. When we first meet Karl, we learn that he’s a former alcoholic trying to stay sober. However, as we learn about his past we begin to question whether or not he can ever be pardoned for his transgressions. We’re never given a concrete answer and are left to draw our own conclusions. Through Sawa’s performance, we see the character’s vulnerability. It’s a moving portrayal that should not go unnoticed.
Yeardley Smith gives a stirring supporting performance as Karl’s cousin Sarah. In many ways, she is the heart and soul of the film, and Smith steals every scene she is in. Sarah is the light and hope that balances the darker undertones of Karl’s persona. She carries a world-weariness about her, but it is her optimism and love for people that make her such a meaningful character.
Who Are You People is a story of love, forgiveness, and finding your place in the world. It’s a universal theme that resonates with us. Epstein delivers a story that presents us with disconcerting questions that leave us pondering long after the film is over.
Who Are You People is now available on VOD.
