Winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize

The directorial debut of A.V Rockwell, as well as recording artist Teyana Taylor’s first lead role. Both excel in this absorbing parenthood drama. Inez (Taylor) finishes a spell at Rikers Island prison and returns to her New York neighbourhood eager to make a living. She reconnects with her 6 year-old son Terry who is in foster care, and rather than risk having to track him down again after it’s suggested he’ll be moved to another home, Inez decides to kidnap him. In depicting the passage of time between the mid-90s and early 00s, the changing face of New York is a dominant thread, used as a framing device to illustrate how controversial policies shaped the lives of black and brown communities. A powerful ode to resilience, and a heartfelt snapshot of a life that reflects the experiences of so many real people.—Little White Lies

“Rockwell has made a humanistic epic – really, it could be a filmed novel – and brings it to life through empathy, subtle shadings, and a central figure and performance that won’t be denied.”—Ty Burr’s Watch List

“The delicately pitched performances, luminous cinematography and quiet, jazzy score counteract [any] excess, creating a stately feel that’s rare in stories of contemporary urban suffering.”—Financial Times