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Stress Positions (film)

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Stress Positions
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTheda Hammel
Screenplay byTheda Hammel
Story by
  • Faheem Ali
  • Theda Hammel
Produced by
  • Brad Becker-Parton
  • Allie Jane Compton
  • John Early
  • Greg Nobile
  • Stephanie Roush
Starring
CinematographyArlene Muller
Edited by
  • Erin DeWitt
  • Theda Hammel
Music byTheda Hammel
Production
companies
  • Neon
  • Seaview
  • Roller Studios
Distributed byNeon
Release dates
  • January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18) (Sundance)
  • April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$105,995[1]

Stress Positions is a 2024 American comedy drama film directed by Theda Hammel (in her feature directorial debut) with a screenplay by Hammel from a story by Faheem Ali and Hammel. It stars John Early, Hammel, Qaher Harhash, Amy Zimmer, Faheem Ali, Rebecca F. Wright, Davidson Obennebo and John Roberts.

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024. The film premiered in theaters on April 19, 2024.[2]

Premise

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During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brooklyn, a Moroccan American young man named Bahlul (Qaher Harhash) recovers from a broken leg while quarantining with his uncle Terry (John Early).[3][4]

Cast

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  • John Early as Terry Goon
  • Qaher Harhash as Bahlul, Terry's nephew
  • Elizabeth Dement as Abigail, Terry's sister and Bahlul's mother
  • Theda Hammel as Karla, Terry's best friend
  • Amy Zimmer as Vanessa, Karla's girlfriend
  • Rebecca F. Wright as Coco, Terry's neighbor
  • Faheem Ali as Ronald, a Grubhub worker
  • Gordon Landenberger as Friendly Neighborhood Lunatic
  • Elias Abawi as Lyft Driver
  • John Roberts as Leo
  • Davidson Obennebo as Hamadou
  • Tarek Ziad as Tarek
  • Joe Van O as Photographer
  • Macy Rodman as Blonde Model
  • Louisa Judge as Blonde Young Woman

Release

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Stress Positions premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[5] It was released on April 19, 2024.[6][7]

Reception

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Critical reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[8]

Much of the initial critical reaction to Stress Positions centered on the film's satirical approach to issues of race, gender, and sexuality.[9][3] Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney deemed Stress Positions "busy but thin".[10] Ryan Lattanzio of Indiewire noted the film's heavy-handed approach to social issues but praised the "wry humor" and the chemistry between Hammel and Early.[11]

Accolades

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Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival 26 January 2024 Sundance Institute/Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award for Fiction Brad Becker-Parton Won [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Stress Positions". The Numbers. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (March 26, 2024). "'Stress Positions' Trailer: John Early Has a COVID Breakdown in a Brilliantly Anxious New York Comedy". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Complex, Valerie (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: Noise Undercuts Nuance In Theda Hammel's Neon Dramedy – Sundance Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ Zilko, Christian; Blauvelt, Christian (20 January 2024). "Watch the 'Stress Positions' Cast Discuss Finding the 'Metaphoric Potential' That Turned COVID Into Comedy". Indiewire. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  5. ^ n.a. "2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 91 Projects Selected for the Feature Films, Episodic, and New Frontier Lineup for 40th Edition". Sundance. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Stress Positions". Neon. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (March 26, 2024). "'Stress Positions' Trailer: John Early Has a COVID Breakdown in a Brilliantly Anxious New York Comedy". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "Stress Positions". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Rizov, Vadim (19 January 2024). "Sundance 2024: Stress Positions, Veni Vidi Vici". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  10. ^ Rooney, David (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: Even John Early Can't Whip Up Much Excitement in Frantic Queer Pandemic Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  11. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (19 January 2024). "'Stress Positions' Review: John Early Is Brilliant in a COVID Comedy That Sees Millennials for Who They Really Are". Indiewire. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces Award Winners". Sundance Institute. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
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