4 star powerful and beautiful tale of one childhood summer.
Sweet Thing is the latest film from critically acclaimed director Alexandre Rockwell (In the Soup, Little Feet), which he both writes and directs. It also stars his children Lana Rockwell (Pete Smalls is Dead) as Billie and Nico Rockwell as Nico. Filmed in black and white and on film instead of digital, this film has a wonderfully nostalgic and magical air about it.
“You two are the only thing that’s true, you know that? You two kids are the only thing that’s true and you’re the only good thing that I ever did.”
Billie (Lana Rockwell) and Nico (Nico Rockwell) are two young siblings living with their well meaning but alcoholic father Adam (Will Patton – Falling Skies, Armageddon) in New Bedford Massachusetts. With Christmas coming, the family are looking forward to spending it together, but as always although it’s as nice as it can be, the alcohol ruins it.
They also miss out on seeing their absent mother Eve (Karyn Parsons – The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) due to Adam’s inability to communicate successfully. When he finally ends up in rehab, the children are sent to Eve’s beach house for the summer, but arguments with her boyfriend Beaux (M. L. Josepher – Sanju) lead to them heading out on an adventure they will never forget with new friend Malik (Jabari Watkins).
Sweet Thing is a beautifully imagined and filmed story which stays with you long after the credits roll. The filming style and natural performances lend it an air of intimacy very rarely seen on film. Lana Rockwell is superb and the grace and dignity with which she bears everything the world can throw at her are an inspiration to anyone. Billie is named after Billie Holliday and imagines her beside her in times of strife, very moving.
There are some scenes filmed in colour, these certainly stand out and feel a little jarring compared to the rest of it, as I’m sure they are intended. It’s an extraordinarily powerful and thought provoking piece of film-making which somehow perfectly captures that childhood feeling of a day that can last forever.
Traumatic in places but ultimately uplifting, this is a glorious slice of life which is well worth adding to your collection.
“I thought we had an agreement about what happens to tattletales. Apparently not.”
Sweet Thing makes it’s world Blu-ray debut on 15th November 2021 as part of the Montage Pictures range.
| Director | Alexandre Rockwell |
| Genre | Drama |
| Starring | Lana Rockwell, Nico Rockwell, Will Patton, Karyn Parsons, Jabari Watkins |
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