Trailer Insight:
The Reticent trailer encapsulates the directorial intentions of the film which centers around an emotional progression that is beautifully decorates with enigmatic fulfilling drama. The trailer first features brief instances of Sam’s reclusive life as a struggling shy freshman who has just lost his father while situated in a serene and idealistic college town. As the scenes progress, the trailer takes the audience deep into his battles with low self-esteem and the need for human connection: people meeting flickering smiles while sharing a joke, a single tear in a dim-lit empty room, all culminating in a powerful speech expressing his struggle to be seen for who he was and understood for his complexities. Such a creative depth, combined with an engaging score, forms a solid combination for this highly effectual film.
Cast Highlights:
- Blake Holden as Sam: A masterful portrayal of an introverted young man, Blake’s performance conveys a spectrum of unspoken emotions with subtlety and precision.
- Mary Mejia Aaron as Liv: Sam’s supportive yet enigmatic classmate who becomes a key catalyst in his emotional journey.
- Meredith Lindsey as Frances: Sam’s estranged mother, whose struggle to reconnect with her son after years of silence is as heart-wrenching as it is compelling.
- Miles Ingram as Professor Blake: A philosophy professor whose cryptic advice leads Sam to confront his fears and take ownership of his grief.
Synopsis:
Viewing oneself through the lens of a reticent young man, feeling emotion only for his father, he is self-silenced, fearing the world would not understand him. Following his father’s death, which was his last significant connection, Sam, the protagonist begins to be expressive. As is evident through the movie, his turning point is the assignment given to her by his professor– an assignment which required Sam to ‘expose himself’ in a more metaphysical layer. The hurdle was dealt with when Sam’s classmate Liv managed to break the shell and become friends with him. From there on out, everything worked out perfectly. Liv pleaded Sam to confront his long lost mother, Frances, so he could retrieve the pain and sorrow that was pent up for such a long time.
In between the familial concerns and emotional connect that the movie brings out, not to forget the relationship the two Lee siblings share, the captivating aura that a quiet fall girl embodies is enough to shake the entire union.
Director’s Vision:
Directed by Blake Holden and L Tanner Smith, Reticent is an exploration of the universal fear of showing one’s oneself, and the courage that it takes to overcome that fear. Appropriately echoing the fragility of its characters, the film was shot carefully using natural light and close-up shots.
