There’s a terrific tension at the center of Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut, “When You Finish Saving The World,” and it seems to do with liberal ideology, identity, projection, and the push and pull fractures parents have with their teenage children and vice versa.
Written and directed by Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore and “Stranger Things” stars Finn Wolfhard, “When You Finish Saving The World” essentially is a comedic family drama about a mother and son who are trying to fill the gaps with how they no longer fit with other people. Eisenberg’s movie, which we called “wry, empathetic, and delightful” in our review, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 and was also the opening film at Cannes Critics’ Week 2022.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Evelyn and her oblivious son Ziggy seek out replacements for each other as Evelyn desperately tries to parent an unassuming teenager at her shelter while Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant young woman at school.
Produced by Ali Herting, Dave McCary, and Emma Stone, in addition to Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard in the lead roles, “When You Finish Saving The World” also features Alisha Boe, Jay O. Sanders, Billy Bryk, and Eleonore Hendricks.
Our reviewer Marya E. Gates said the film “critiques the pratfalls of seeking internet fame, well-meaning liberalism, and fraught parent-child relationships among a generational divide.”
A24 will release “When You Finish Saving The World” on January 20. Watch the new trailer below.