Leads Review: Living in the Shadows, Mirrors, and Metaphorical Walls
"A love letter to late bloomers, awkward family reunions, and the beautiful mess of trying to make art — and sense — of your life."
A drama lecturer’s life slowly starts to unravel when her brother comes to visit, unannounced, claiming he’s only staying while waiting for a new job to start.
Mags is a single mother, drama lecturer, and actor who’s living in the shadow of a successful movie she starred in at Sundance years prior. Hanging on by a thread, her brother Merritt’s unexpected visit seems to be cheering her up until it doesn’t.
At first, their bond feels strong, they seem comfortable with each other, and there’s a typical brother-sister annoyance to them.
Their fights grow at the same rate as their flaws are presented, shifting the film’s tone drastically and suddenly.
We learn that Merritt is running from legal trouble, while Mags is lonely and has been gradually toeing an unrealized, inappropriate line. With Mags and Merritt carrying secrets and the weight of their internal shame, they unknowingly acted as mirrors toward each other, creating a metaphorical wall between them.
During the Q&A after a Leads Tribeca screening, director Bryan Poyser revealed there was no script at this film’s conception. He’s an associate professor at Texas State University in the theater and arts department. During a break, he had access to an empty campus, student actors, Justin Arnold, Heather Kafka, and a movie ready to be made.
Leads is about dreams, community, discomfort, realizing your worth, doing the right thing, and art.
This film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.