The Duplass bros. tentacles are among the close-knit on another project to keep tabs on in the next calendar year. Future star so bright pre-teen actress Oona Laurence (upcoming Southpaw, The Grief of Others, I Smile Back) and Jess Weixler (who has managed to make a move onto the international scene with Cannes and Locarno preemed The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, Him, Them and Listen Up Philip) are set to star in Ross Partridge’s sophomore feature. Written and to be directed by Partridge (also stars) Lamb is set to begin lensing in Wyoming but look for road trip elements including the Chicagoan backdrop. Mel Eslyn (Touchy Feely, The One I Love) and Tayor Williams (The Dish & the Spoon) will produce with Jennifer Lafleur and Mark Duplass exec producing.
Gist: Based on the Bonnie Nadzam novel, this traces the self-discovery of David Lamb (Ross Partridge) in the weeks following the disintegration of his marriage, and the death of his father. Laurence plays Tommie, an awkward and unpopular eleven-year-old girl (Laurence) who Lamb turns attention to in hopes of regaining faith in his own goodness. Lamb is determined to help her avoid a destiny of apathy and emptiness by embarking on a road trip from Chicago to the Rockies to revisit his father’s property, and initiating Tommie into the beauty of the mountain wilderness.
Worth Noting: Ross Partridge and Jennifer Lafleur have previously teamed in “Wedlock” web-series and both co-starred in the Fantasia Film Fest preemed The Midnight Swim. Nicholas Bell calls Sarah Adina Smith’s debut “an intriguing debut that uses familiar tropes with a bit more innovation than other fare similarly dressed“.
Do We Care?: If Partridge manages to bring forth the melange of discomfort and nurture projected in the novel, the Paper Moon/Lolita-esque sounding road-trippy item will surely have future onlookers cozily distraught.
