The Novice
Florida Premiere
Lauren Hadaway, 2021, USA, 94 mins.
This darkly thrilling sports drama about a queer college student climbing the ranks of her university’s rowing team is based on director Lauren Hadaway’s own experiences as a competitive collegiate rower. Isabelle Fuhrman plays the lead character of Alex Dall with intensity and vulnerability as she embarks on an obsessive physical and psychological quest to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. The film’s frenetic editing and visceral cinematography capture the blood, sweat, and tears reminiscent of Whiplash and Black Swan.
At Last
Lorena Gordon, 2020, USA 13 min
A timid high school girl reveals her truth during the most important night of the year.