One of the best parts of film festivals is being able to discover some hidden gems that would otherwise go unnoticed or overlooked. Even for someone like me who seeks out these little independent powerhouses can get caught up chasing the larger theatrical blockbusters. Thankfully, “A Thousand and One” was a perfect catch at Sundance this year, and ranked in my top 5 Best films out of the festival. A thoughtful, deeply moving story of a mother and son against the world, set in a rapidly evolving New York, further powered by a star making performance from its lead. The film is a true breakout on all fronts, a film that represents why festivals exist in the first place. From its writer/director’s deeply personal and pensive examination of hustlers and life in the city she knows well to the incredible performance from Teyana Taylor, “A Thousand and One” is can’t miss cinema that reaches into the core of family and survival against all odds, and will leave a lasting emotional impression on its viewers.
Winner of the 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, “A Thousand and One” is written and directed by A.V Rockwell in her first feature film debut. Set in the early 90s, it follows a young woman named Inez who has just been released from prison. Unapologetic and a hustler through and through, Inez tries to reunite with her young son Terry, who has been placed into the foster system in her absence and is essentially still living on the street. In a brash decision, Inez decides to kidnap Terry and raise him herself instead of allowing him back into the system where he legally belongs. What transpires is a growing bond between a mother and son trying to survive in an ever changing city, a bond that will be tested through the years as they learn more and more about what family and belonging means to each of them.
There’s enough family in “A Thousand and One” to make Dominic Toretto jealous, but is it much more purposeful than just leaping out of cars and defying physics. No, THIS family is deeply grounded and profound, with Rockwell capturing as many facets of relationships as she can with each year that transpires between Inez and Terry. Surviving in New York is the easy part; being a good mother and a good son is the hard part. Rockwell directs with such reverence for her setting that the backdrop of New York acts as a character in and of itself. The city changes around them in ways that express gentrification, bigotry, and the need to adapt. “A Thousand and One” speaks volumes about where we are in time and what is happening around our characters without ever indulging in the impulse to deliver exposition dumps. It is an incredibly skillful framework to bring the city alive and make New York as important as the people who live there.
In addition to Rockwell’s incredible skill behind the camera to bring her vision and script to life, she also seems to have found the perfect muse for Inez in Teyana Taylor. Taylor is a tour de force, and delivers a captivating and deeply emotional performance that is sure to launch her into stardom. Taylor wears her heart on her sleeve, and desperately tries to balance her raw emotion with a strong front, fighting against anything that could separate from her son and the life she is trying to provide for him. She is a survivor, and even when she is brash and immature and naive, you can’t help but root for Taylor’s Inez. She is so beautifully nuanced here, and while I know Taylor has had a long, successful career before “A Thousand and One,” this particular performance skyrockets her to the top of my watch list. There is a lot that already works under the helm of Rockwell, but none of it works as well without Taylor giving absolutely everything she has to the role.
Terry is played by two different actors, as the story is told over a decade or so and needs to watch Terry grow up through the years. Aaron Kingsley (“Rise”) plays young 6 year old Terry while Josiah Cross (“King Richard” plays the older, teenage version. Both are solid but aren’t given nearly as much on the page to transform as Taylor is with Inez. Both performers do well enough though, with Cross embodying a teenager desperately trying to understand his place in a world that doesn’t seem to want him anywhere. He has some incredible scenes with Taylor in the third act, and though a little rushed in its conclusion, the raw emotions brought out of both of them brought me to tears by the end.
The real stand out (aside from Taylor of course) is William Catlett as Lucky, Inez’ new boyfriend and later husband who acts as the father Terry never had. Again, Rockwell smartly avoids the pitfalls of stereotypes by making him an absentee father or an outright scoundrel meant to hurt both Inez and Terry. Lucky isn’t perfect by any stretch, but it is refreshing to see a character like him enter the picture and become a part of the family instead of its destructor. Though not as present in “A Thousand and One” as you may like, he is presence is ubiquitous as it changes the dynamic of their little against all odds family unit. It shouldn’t need to be said, but watching a film like this one that purposefully adds layers to a black male father figure who is flawed but not villainized is more refreshing than it should be in cinema.
I can’t say enough positive things about “A Thousand and One.” Riveting, emotional, and triumphant, it is a testament to how effective a simple story can be when done right. Rockwell directs with expert precision far beyond her non existent filmography, and cements herself as a true rising filmmaker to watch. Additionally, Taylor’s breakthrough performance is unforgettable, one that I hope has enough legs to carry her through to the end of the year when we start talking awards. Ya, she’s that good. Though it bites off a little more than it can chew in its final act and the lack of experience begins to show in a somewhat rushed finale, it packs a wallop of an emotional gut punch that it becomes relatively easy to overlook and forgive.
More people need to see “A Thousand and One.” It has stuck with me from nearly 3 months since I saw it, and is so visceral and emotionally resonating that I have already reserved it a spot on my top 10 of 2023 so far. I don’t want to oversell it, but “A Thousand and One” is gorgeously crafted cinema with heart and purpose, and I truly can’t recommend it enough.
Please do not sleep on “A Thousand to One.” You won’t regret giving it a shot. I promise.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
“A Thousand and One” is now playing in theaters. You can watch the trailer below.
