GFF: James White

Josh Mond’s debut feature is an edgy, intense portrait of a hedonistic twentysomething struggling to find his bearings in a frenzied New York City. James (Christopher Abbott from Girls) is smart, self-destructive, self-indulgent and still living on his mother’s couch. Drink, drugs and casual sex are comforts in a world that threatens to overwhelm him. His mother Gail (Cynthia Nixon) is fighting cancer and as her health declines, James is confronted by the kind of heartbreak that requires him to get his act together and take some responsibility. A raw, tender piece with powerhouse performances from the two leads and stunning cinematography from Mátyás Erdély.

(film also screens Sat 20 Feb, 1:15pm)