India Donaldson is a writer/director who makes her feature debut with Good One. This minimalist drama garnered raves at Sundance and Cannes as it made its way through the festival circuit, picking up Best Independent Feature accolades in Boston and the Champs-Élysées Film Festival earlier this year. In cinéma vérité style, Good One tells a story of a queer teenage girl spending time on a camping site with her dad and his best friend who he has been trying to help out of their misery. Star Lily Collias is a revelation here, perfectly capturing the character’s disillusionment without uttering many words that will make even arthouse or slow cinema goers become really frustrated.
In New York City, Sam (Collias), 17 years old, hangs around Jessie’s (Sumaya Bouhbal) bedroom before they set off for hiking. They reach an intimate level by Sam changing her sanitary pad in the bathroom while talking. On the other hand, Chris (James Le Gros), argues with Sam’s stepmother as his younger son dashes around their apartment duplex. Chris has many rules for how he organizes his things since he has taken Sam on these hikes from when she was young.
Chris’ buddy Matt (Danny McCarthy) apparently had plans to bring along his teenage son on this trip but as soon as they get to his brownstone; they see Matt quarrelling with his son at the steps of his house. Matt huffs throwing down his backpack into the car. There was no one else her age coming with them; which upset Sam even more than anything else did until she discovered that Matt recently divorced and bitterly complained about losing everything he worked so hard for in life. Chris hears him out but also makes Sam sleep on hotel room floor before the long hike starts together with Matt.
With perceived rising tension, Good One traps you into watching it more closely. Hoping for some sort of relief, Matt speaks about his depression out loud. He is not prepared for such a tough hike at all. Chris wants to be understanding with Matt, but he does not want him to lag behind or strain too much either. Sam’s point of view dominates most parts of the movie. Donaldson uses her as an older man’s cool and collected voice of reason in the beginning. There is this feeling that something huge is about to happen when they are making their way through the forest. But it doesn’t really occur, which can be a little bit disappointing for some.
Good One is an exercise in subtlety. The plot is simply slow-paced. Donaldson employs slice of life realism to frame her characters. They’re just normal people who take off for the weekend and have conversations along the way. Then there was conflict— though ‘conflict’ might not be exactly what happens— as light as air borne feather. It however changes Sam’s way regarding everything that she dislikes about her father. Though Sam appears in some shots where she never speaks up, Chris absolutely loves her yet has never really taken enough time or made efforts to know his daughter well enough until now and then she must make a change in herself.
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The film is powerfully anchored by a luminous performance delivered by Collias. From the beginning, Sam is portrayed as mature, thoughtful and unselfish. She’s never hyperbolic in any way. Sam doesn’t complain or try to be the center of attention ever. Nevertheless, she understands more than her age suggests and can lend a sympathetic ear whenever possible. When giving advice Sam is honest without being harsh. She doesn’t support Matt’s “woe-is-me” attitude but does acknowledge his vulnerability too. Chris does not realize that she means it and he cannot take her seriously regarding what occurs between them.
There is despair and disillusionment towards someone who should have been her greatest proponent in life; you can feel it in every fiber of your being.
Good One has Sam menstruating throughout Good One which is rarely depicted accurately in films, Donaldson deserves credit for focusing on something that happens to every woman as normal part of living (the realization that men and women live in different worlds, and we’re usually ignorant about each other). Most men don’t even know what’s going on around them as they go about their normal activities. Sam does not skip the trip or ask for any special treatment except privacy. She would like to spend some time with her father on their hike trip. Knowing people doesn’t guarantee that they will be there for you.
Good One has been praised to high heaven and likened to the works of the great Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy, Meek’s Cutoff, First Cow), largely because of Reichardt’s fine movie Old Joy where two grown-up friends are pictured during a walk through nature yet captures so much in its economy of means 18 words]. But that is exceptional praise if Donaldson follows in her cinematic footsteps [10 words]. Every frame mesmerizes one in Reichardt’s movies [9 words]. It will take hours out of people’s lives to watch Good One; for most individuals, the characters move very slowly and it is like a 90-minute film would never end. Although Good One will likely bore most audiences, its acting and content make it worth watching. At best, this is a testament to Collias’ incredible talent [14 words]. Watch out for what she does next.
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