It‘s hard to believe that A THOUSAND AND ONE is the debut of A.V. Rockwell. Rockwell directors so confidently and bravely. With no hesitation, the director changes the tempo and mood and seamlessly switches from vibrating street scenes to intimate dialogue situation. The city of New York is a protagonist, but it takes a long time until the film allows us to take a look at the long city streets. At first, we‘re in Harlem in the 90s. Filmed from below, so that the colorful, run-down brick houses tower over her, Inez (Teyana Taylor) is always out and about, freshly out of prison, looking for a home, work, and her son Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola) who lives with a foster family and can barely remember her. When she finds out that he‘s in the hospital, she visits him there and the two get along. When he‘s meant to relocate, she takes him with her. A THOUSAND AND ONE follows her journey for 12 years: Inez and Taylor have to lay low and change their names so that Terry can start school. Inez‘ ex Lucky (Will Catlett) resurfaces. The shy child turns into a taciturn teenager (Aven Courtney) and then to a calm, young man (Josiah Cross). In the background, the city changes, Giuliani announces his zero tolerance politics, and gentrification displaces old renters from their apartments. At the center of the film is Inez, who Taylor embodies with tireless energy. Toned, rough, direct, she approaches life as if it‘s a boxing match. “I‘ll go to war for you,“ she tells Terry, and means it.

Hendrike Bake (INDIEKINO MAGAZIN)

Translation: Elinor Lewy