Tea
2024 · 12m · USA
Directed by Blake Winston Rice
Genres: comedy, drama, romance
Tones: humorous, tender, whimsical
Set in 1998, a shy and highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee (Michael Gandolfini) rehearses asking out his crush, but when a hornet sting sends him into anaphylaxis, speaking to the girl of his dreams becomes a matter of survival.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
Allergic-throat-anaphylaxis-during-the-crush-confession as Patty-Jenkins-EP'd Cannes-Palm-d'Or-nominee with Michael Gandolfini — that pedigree-to-premise ratio is suspiciously high. Could be charming, could be very calculated.
Rice's 1998 Circuit-Shack allergic-reaction romcom with Michael Gandolfini and Patty Jenkins as executive producer is a curious pedigree for a Cannes-nominated short. Lighter than my usual register but evidently well-made.
12:29 Cannes Film Festival 2024 Short Film Palme d'Or nominee, executive produced by Patty Jenkins, starring Michael Gandolfini — that's heavyweight pedigree for a 1998-set teen-crush-meets-anaphylaxis premise. Cannes nominating it tells me Rice's structural lift (romcom hijacked by allergy emergency) lands.
Reviews
A tender comedy with an undeniable nostalgic charm.
In just twelve minutes, TEA perfectly balances empathy and comedy.
Festivals
- Festival de Cannes 2024
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2024
- Nashville Film Festival 2024
- HollyShorts Film Festival 2024, Winner
- Charlotte Film Festival 2024, Winner
- RiverRun International Film Festival 2024, Winner
- Yellowstone International Film Festival 2024, Winner
- Bushwick Film Festival 2024, Winner
- Micheaux Film Festival 2024, Winner