'Suncoast' Review: Laura Chinn's directorial debut navigates adolescent turmoil, loss and family dynamics
Contains spoilers for 'Suncoast'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The writer Laura Chinn made her directorial debut with Hulu's most recent release, 'Suncoast', which debuted at Sundance on January 21.
This coming-of-age movie follows the journey of a teenage girl attempting to make her way through the challenges of growing up and coping with the aftermath of her brother's illness.
Despite donning the cap of a carer for her cancer-suffering brother Max(Cree Kawa) for the majority of her life, Doris (Nico Parker) feels unappreciated in comparison to her mother's (Laura Linney) extravagant care for her son.
As her brother's brain cancer degrades, he is transferred to a hospice center, Suncoast, where Doris develops an unlikely bond with widower Paul (Woody Harrelson), who even teaches her to drive and somehow acts as her philosopher.
Laura Linney's portrayal brings depth to the storyline
The star of the movie is undoubtedly Laura Linney. Linney presents a deep and somewhat complex picture of a caring mother for one child and an uninformed guardian for the other.
Her performance is believable and gives the screenplay of the movie a subtle sense of depth. Linney has captured the raw intensity of Kristine perfectly; she is so devoted to her son that she has developed a strained relationship with her daughter.
Nico Parker, who gained worldwide recognition for her effective portrayal in 'The Last of Us', has masterfully mirrored the disappearance of Doris on screen. Parker's acting adds rawness to Doris' struggles to navigate friendships and family. Her demeanor speaks of pain.
Her portrayal deftly translates Doris' yearning for attention, love, and, at the very least, someone who genuinely gets what she is going through. Another notable performance is Woody Harrelson's portrayal of Paul, in which he exudes his signature charm.
Paul, played by Harrelson, gives Parker's Doris a ray of hope. His commanding performance captures the spirit of the movie and proves that he is unwaveringly supportive of Doris as she pursues her own meaning in life.
Laura Chinn skillfully captures the bittersweet teenage years
The film is a semi-autobiography of director Laura Chinn, who makes a concerted effort to take the audience on a journey through adolescence, complicated family dynamics, teenage struggles, and loss.
Her personal perspective of what it's like to be a teenager is skillfully crafted and unflinchingly reflected in the film. The hospic subplot of Terri Schiavo, though, adds a sense of realism to the plot as it plays along with the personal journey of Doris.
Chinn's deft translation of pop culture allusions, such as the well-known split between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, serves as a poignant reminder of the vivid and colorful decade, especially when framed against the backdrop of the mid-2000s.
The film is a trip down memory lane, complete with vibrant visuals and a soundtrack full of nostalgia. In addition, Chinn has adeptly captured the emotional turmoil of a teenage girl whose complex family dynamics significantly burden her, illuminating the terrain of her struggles on screen.
'Suncoast' explores universal themes of family and loss
There are some very heartbreaking scenes in the film, most notably the one where Kristine is so consumed with providing for her dying son Max (played by Cree Kawa) that she forgets she has a daughter who is well and needs her just as much as her son.
This is just one of many scenes in the film where we can empathize with Doris and her quest to find her own identity, and this is what distinguishes this film from others in its genre. The film portrays a melancholic adolescent attempting to make sense of her turbulent emotional life.
Even though the plot falters occasionally, you shouldn't let that stop you from enjoying this touching story about loss, family, friendships, and self-discovery.
'Suncoast' is now streaming on Hulu.
