“Luce,” a smash-hit at Sundance and a hotly anticipated 2019 release, stars Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Harrison Jr., and Tim Roth in a psychodrama which our critic Jordan Ruimy described as “brilliantly tense.” A psychological thriller with sociopolitical underpinnings, “Luce” is sure to stir up strong feelings about the status quo and may challenge your ideas of how we perceive and judge people. Certain to be one of the most talked-about films of the year, “Luce” has left many audiences breathless and we can’t wait for that kind of experience.
Directed and co-written by Julias Onah, “Luce” examines the American Dream with a sharp, even critical eye, focusing on social and racial politics as it tells a story that’s wrenching, powerful, and inspired by our society’s most prevalent problems. In it, rising star Luce (Harrison Jr.) finds his spotless reputation under fire when his teacher, Mrs. Wilson (Spencer), breaks into his locker and finds fireworks. Mrs. Wilson’s intentions are immediately suspicious, but Luce isn’t entirely off the hook, either. Wilson goes straight to Luce’s parents (Watts and Roth) instead of confronting the boy directly. What follows is a chain of startling developments that will throw the reputations and motives of both characters into question.
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The film relies heavily on delayed revelation and carefully constructed scenes that will keep viewers wondering who is actually at fault. Ruimy’s Sundance review of the film says, “Complex, layered and inviting disquisition, “Luce” then selectively plays things elusive. There could be something sinister about Luce or maybe Mrs. Wilson’s actions are unjustified, and she’s overstepped her boundaries yet again. The movie inches both of these ideas forward, but its left to the audience to litigate them.”
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As Ruimy’s review makes clear, Onah and co-writer J.C. Lee play things rather close to the vest. They both want to further the conversation without readily providing clear answers, probably with the hope that it will spark a desire for more productive, more powerful discourse.
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“Luce” will hit theaters on August 2, 2019, via Neon. Watch the trailer right here.