Coast Review – Teen Age Angst Film Delivers

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Category: Indies, Docs, Foreign Film

Published on Friday, 15 April 2022 16:23

Written by Janet Walker

Coast, from Cinedigm Entertainment Group, presents a coming-of-age teenage angst film as four girlfriends, each on different paths and dealing with the disruptions of life, come to a crossroads that will forever change their futures.  

Set in a Central Californian farming community, the film revolves around 16-year-old Abby, played by Fatima Ptacek, who is desperate to escape the trappings of small-town life. As her parents have recently divorced, the disruption of life post-divorce for her includes shutting out her father, played by Paul McCarthy-Boyington, unable to wrap her mind around the fact that he left her and her mom, Debora, played by Cristela Alonzo, and began his second act.

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We also meet her three best friends, free spirit Kristi, played by Mia Rose Frampton, Kat, played by Mia Xitali and Cassie, played by Ciara Bravo. Our bad influence in the group is Kristi, who sees the world through wanderlust eyes and the town through dank, dark despair. Wanting to run, as far and as fast as she can, she also wanted a traveling companion.

She convinces Abby to skip school and the two visit the local music store. Handing out flyers for an awesome party they suddenly take over the store with teenage freedom. Switching the music, they are dancing in aisles unaware of the other customers.

Kristi, of course, walks up to the stranger who introduces himself as Dave, played by Kane Ritchotte, and seems amused by the freedom. He appears to instantly be attracted to Abby. He explains he is in a touring band, and their bus broke down, so they are stuck here until during the repairs.

As the girls arrive for the party that evening, Dave, and his band are on stage and Abby is hypnotized. As the night ends, he genuinely seems interested in Abby. A bright spot in this chaotic eruption as decisions for the future need to be considered; abandonment of youth and carefree living will soon be replaced by responsibilities.

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Abby is remined of this as she and her friends talk about another high school student that ended up pregnant with a son. Abby is trying to make sense of her mixed feelings, the roller coaster emotions, and the upheaval at home and the equation always ends with running.

Suddenly it's like everywhere Abby and her friends are Dave and his band are there also. The two are inseparable and he convinces her to join him on stage. As they are getting closer, everyone is jealous that she is suddenly special in her group.

As Dave is touring, once the van is repaired, he is leaving, so he finally asks her to leave with him. Finally, she is faced with the decision, leave the life she has known, escape to the unknown future or stay?

Melissa Leo stars as Olivia, a patient of Abby's mom, who brings the third generation of mother-daughter relationships into view as the two share stories.

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Coast, explore the stories of middle California teens, some the sons and daughters of migrant workers, who work the land and provide fresh produce for the nation and are consider much like the middle-class manufacturing workers in the east. Looked down on by outsiders, unknown, swallowed up in the bigger metropolitan areas.

With live music performances and an exciting ensemble cast, Coast is about female friendships, finding your truth and letting the music take you home. The film's energetic live performances and original score feature music by Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper (Grouplove), Alex Walker, Kane Ritchotte (More), The Ceremonies, Black Match, and others.

Coast, a coming-of-age drama about a chance encounter that turns into a journey of self-discovery, will release day-and-date in theaters and on VOD April 8, 2022. See this film.

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Country: USA.

Runtime: 96minutes.

Writer: Cindy Kitagawa

Director: Jessica Hester and Derek Schweickart.

Producer: Wendy Guerrero, Jessica Hester, Dani Faith Leonard, Alex Cirillo, Derek Schweickart.

Cast: Melissa Leo, Ciara Bravo, Mia Rose Frampton, Cristela Alonzo, Fatima Ptacek, Kane Ritchotte, Andrew Velez, Mia Xitlali, Victoria de Rosal, Paul McCarthy-Boyington, Eduardo Roman.