In only two films, director Jennifer Kent has established herself as one of the best voices in modern film. Though her most recent film “The Nightingale” hasn’t received the rapturous reception that her debut “The Babadook” might have, the new thriller proved that Kent isn’t willing to ever take the safe route with her films and can still disturb and move audiences without a fairy tale monster. And for her upcoming film, “Alice + Freda Forever,” it would appear that Kent is sticking to that MO.
According to Deadline, Amazon Studios has decided that it believes in Jennifer Kent and will finance and distribute the upcoming thriller “Alice + Freda Forever,” based on the non-fiction book of the same name by author Alexis Coe. The film will tell the true story of two teen girls in 1892 that fall deeply in love, but when the public finds out about their forbidden affair, things take a deadly turn.
This is a great “get” for Amazon Studios, who always tries to land some of the more high-profile filmmakers that could potentially get awards consideration. With Kent, you’re looking at a filmmaker that has already established herself as one of the best in the world, and someone that is always going to be a festival favorite and potential awards contender.
‘Alice’ also feels like a film that is right in the wheelhouse of Kent, who has proven to enjoy period settings and female protagonists with her previous works, specifically ‘Nightingale.’ And with a subject matter as brutal, it’s obvious the filmmaker has shown that she can handle balancing emotional drama with doses of imagery that will punch you in the gut.
There’s no release date set for “Alice + Freda Forever,” but Amazon Studios and Kent are looking at a production start date sometime in summer 2020.