Direction: A.V. Rockwell
Country: USA
In its modest package, A Thousand and One, a painfully realistic drama from debutant writer-director A.V. Rockwell, leaves us with a moral dilemma and the real anxieties of life.
The story, set in New York in the mid-‘90s, follows Inez (Teyana Taylor), a venturous woman in her early twenties, who, days after being released from prison for stealing, kidnaps a six-year-old (Aaron Kingsley Adetola) from the foster care system. Although doing her best to be a good mom and staying out of sight, she struggles to find financial stability and keep her home safe from the abhorrent New York City gentrification.
People grow emotionally and change with time. And that's the case with Lucky (Will Catlett), Inez’s boyfriend, whose posture toward the child redirects from indifferent to a helpful father figure. In a way, it serves as a moving reminder that there are people out there who can change the life of someone.
One notes some dubious aspects to this story, which could have been better developed at some point. Yet, all in all, this is an engaging drama from a new filmmaker who dabbles in the themes more than explores them. It also provides a meaty role for the Harlem-born 32-year-old R&B singer/actress Teyana Taylor, who proved to have strong acting skills.
Even dwindling in intensity in the last quarter, the film will leave you prostrated with its thoroughly wired reality, making for a heartfelt alternative to the more traditional documentary-style approach. Soundtrack and cinematography are added values.
