How will you remember 2020? The intriguing question is at the heart of Peter Hedges’ “The Same Storm”; filmed using laptops and iPhones, it serves as a cinematic record of the year’s looming issues. Hedges — who wrote and directed the project — tackles a myriad of topics ranging from a then-new pandemic to an upcoming election. ‘Storm’ also touches upon the fragile human connections its writer expertly tackled in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” ‘Storm’ also offers a chance for the “Pieces of April” and “Dan in Real Life” director to delve deeper into the art’s influence on reality.
The film features an ensemble of talented performers. Mary-Louise Parker, Elaine May, Raza Jaffrey, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Moses Ingram, Rosemarie DeWitt, Joshua Leonard, John Gallagher Jr., Judith Ligh, and Sandra Oh are just a few of the actors contributing to the project. While some have previously worked with Hedges, others are newcomers to his unique cinematic perspective. The cast also includes Noma Dumezweni, Brittany Bradford, Raul Castillo, Rubin-Vega, Camila Perez, Jin Ha, and more.
The film’s official synopsis:
Filmed using iPhones and laptops during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Same Storm is an intimate look into the lives of twenty-four characters as they journey through the spring and summer of 2020. With lockdowns, the Black Lives Matter movement and the looming 2020 elections as key backdrops, the film explores the necessity of human connection, family, love and the ability to find empathy during a fraught, untenable time. Writer/director Peter Hedges crafts a unique piece of hopeful filmmaking that demonstrates and celebrates the ability of art to connect us.
The strange year that was 2020 acts as a backdrop for “The Same Storm.” It premieres in New York and Los Angeles on October 14th. Watch the trailer below.
