Josephine Trailer: Sundance Grand Jury and Audience Award Winner Set to Release This November

      After securing both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at Sundance earlier this year (an achievement last seen with CODA, which went on to win the Best Picture Oscar), Beth de Araújo’s intense, emotional drama Josephine—featuring Mason Reeves, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, and Philip Ettinger—will be released this fall by Sumerian Pictures. The initial trailer has been released in advance of its November 20 premiere.

      Here’s the synopsis: “Drawing from her own lived experiences, writer/director/producer Beth de Araújo presents the film JOSEPHINE, which explores the psychological aftermath of eight-year-old Josephine (Reeves) witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park. As she begins to act out, her parents (Tatum and Chan) grapple with how to help their daughter cope while confronting their own fears regarding the incident and how to talk to her about it. JOSEPHINE tells a story of a family as we have never witnessed before, showcasing outstanding performances from Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan.”

      In my review, I remarked, “Perspective is crucial in Beth de Araújo’s Josephine, an unsettling drama centered around the loss of innocence and the inadequate support—both from parents and the system—that can exacerbate lasting trauma. We first encounter eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves, delivering an impressive debut) through her perspective as she heads to early-morning soccer practice with her father Damien (Channing Tatum). Though this first-person viewpoint is occasionally revisited, Araújo remains closely aligned with her lead character for most of the film. This stylistic connection to Josephine’s vulnerable emotional state—shaken by a traumatic event and dealing with its incomprehensible consequences—stands as the film’s greatest strength, though it can stumble when that focus is interrupted.”

      Watch the trailer below: