| Saint Frances | |
|---|---|
 theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alex Thompson |
| Written by | Kelly O'Sullivan |
| Produced by | James Choi Pierce Cravens Ian Keiser Eddie Linker Raphael Nash Alex Thompson Roger Welp |
| Starring | Kelly O'Sullivan Ramona Edith Williams |
| Cinematography | Nate Hurtsellers |
| Music by | Quinn Tsan, Alexander Babbitt |
| Distributed by | Oscilloscope Laboratories |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
Saint Frances is a 2019 American comedy-drama film, directed by Alex Thompson, written by Kelly O'Sullivan and starring O'Sullivan, Ramona Edith Williams, Charin Alvarez, Lily Mojekwu and Max Lipchitz. The film was nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award in 2020.
Premise
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Bridget, a 34 year old, gets a job nannying six-year-old Frances. Bridget's unwanted pregnancy and abortion raise many complications.
Cast
- Kelly O'Sullivan as Bridget
- Ramona Edith Williams as Frances
- Charin Alvarez as Maya
- Lily Mojekwu as Annie
- Max Lipchitz as Jace
- Jim True-Frost as Isaac
- Mary Beth Fisher as Carol
- Francis Guinan as Dennis
- Rebecca Spence as Joan
Release
Critical response
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 99% based on 102 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Saint Frances approaches an array of weighty issues with empathy, humor, and grace -- and marks star and writer Kelly O'Sullivan as a tremendous talent to watch." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "Universal Acclaim".
Peter Debruge writing for Variety wrote, "Saint Frances takes a stand in letting the character figure things out for herself, while illuminating those things — like pregnancy and her period — that she shouldn’t have to". Hau Chu of The Washington Post wrote, "O’Sullivan’s script wobbles when the focus shifts from that dynamic". David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Thompson's direction and O'Sullivan's screenplay are more often characterized by their light touch than their missteps in a likeable film elevated by its crisp, summery look and warm score".
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | SXSW Film Festival | Audience Award | Won | |
| Special Jury Award | Won | |||
| SXSW Grand Jury Award | Nominated |
References
- "Independent Spirit Award Nomination for SAINT FRANCES". Screen Magazine. March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- "Saint Frances (2019)", Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, retrieved October 30, 2021
- "Saint Frances". Metacritic. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- Debruge, Peter (March 1, 2020). "'Saint Frances': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- Chu, Hau (March 9, 2020). "Review | 'Saint Frances' is a welcome, earnest spin on the coming-of-age tale". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- Rooney, David (March 11, 2019). "'Saint Frances': Film Review | SXSW 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- McNary, Dave (August 15, 2019). "Film News Roundup: SXSW Winner 'Saint Frances' Bought by Oscilloscope". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2020.