by Alex Billington
March 26, 2024
Source: YouTube
"Be free! Fiction is freedom!" Neon has revealed an official trailer for a totally bonkers indie comedy titled Stress Positions, marking the feature directorial debut of trans filmmaker Theda Hammel (also of the series "My Trip to Spain"). This premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in the Dramatic Competition section, and it's also playing at New Directors/New Films in NYC in April before it opens in select theaters later in April as well. Terry Goon is keeping very strict quarantine in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone while caring for his nephew — a 19-year-old model from Morocco named Bahlul — bedridden in a full leg cast after an electric scooter accident. Unfortunately for Terry, everyone in his life wants to meet the model – hilarity ensues. Starring John Early, Qaher Harhash, Theda Hammel, Amy Zimmer, Faheem Ali, and John Roberts. This awkward comedy is about a hodgepodge of queer people from NYC coming-and-going from this guy's apartment during the pandemic. One of my least favorite films at Sundance, I found it entirely insufferable & boring, but that's just my opinion and everyone else should make up their own mind.
Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Theda Hammel's Stress Positions, direct from Neon's YouTube:
From Sundance: "Terry Goon is keeping strict quarantine in his ex-husband’s Brooklyn brownstone while caring for his nephew — a 19-year-old model from Morocco named Bahlul — bedridden in a full leg cast after an electric scooter accident. Unfortunately for Terry, everyone in his life wants to meet the model. [The film] is as much a finely tuned time capsule of the frantic fear & formative power of the pandemic as it is a road map out of dark places guided by profound humanity. A careful balance between a consistent, razor-sharp humor and the development of a distinctive cinematic tone creates a particular mood and energy that is not easily forgotten." Stress Positions is written and directed by the indie writer / filmmaker Theda Hammel, making her feature directorial debut after the series "My Trip to Spain" previously. From a story by Theda Hammel & Faheem Ali. Produced by Brad Becker-Parton, John Early, Stephanie Roush, Allie Jane Compton, Greg Nobile. This first premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Neon will debut Hammel's Stress Positions in select US theaters on April 19th, 2024 this spring. Curious?