The Nurturing
2020 · 10m · USA
Directed by Esteban Pedraza
Genres: drama, experimental
Tones: contemplative, surreal, tender
Rebecca becomes convinced she can change the world using an old video game controller. Her boyfriend is less convinced.
Picked by Felix
The scouts
A woman with a busted controller and a god complex — that's the premise of either the worst student film or one of the great parables of the decade. NoBudge says the latter; I'll take the bet.
A thrift-store NES peripheral as proxy for faith and empathy is exactly the kind of object-specific magical realism that earns its conceit. Shane Carruth domestic register is rare air.
A thrift-store NES controller as a magical-realist proxy for faith and empathy is a delicate pitch — could be tender or precious depending on rhythm. The Carruth-domestic comparison interests me but the page summary is too short to commit.
Reviews
a heady parable on empathy and belief, rich in ideas and atmosphere