Glen Wilson / Via Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Produced by Ryan Coogler, the second feature from Shaka King is a formidable work of art. A late addition to the Sundance lineup, the film stars Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton, the young chair of the Black Panther Party’s Illinois chapter, and Lakeith Stanfield as William O’Neal, the undercover FBI informant who joins the group and betrays them. Kaluuya carries a grounded gravitas and is nothing short of sensational in his tour de force portrayal of the charismatic activist. Meanwhile, Stanfield’s chameleonlike nature serves his frantic character well here; it’s hard to pin down where his head’s at as he scrambles to survive. Throw in a handful of other notable performances (courtesy of Dominique Fishback,
Marvelous and the Black Hole and
Land capture the intricacies of grief, with Kate Tsang and
Robin Wright, respectively, tackling rather difficult subject matter in very different ways. There isn’t one correct formula to telling a story, no matter how similar they might be, and both these films offer a unique perspective on how and why we grieve.
Marvelous and the Black Hole (Kate Tsang)
Marvelous and the Block Hole (2020) – source: Sundance Film Festival
In her feature directorial debut,
Marvelous and the Black Hole,
Kate Tsang has created a tender examination of grief through the lens of a 13-year old child. The film hovers around the imaginative nature of childhood, but never flinches away from the serious nature of the narrative, and handles the concept of lived grief with maturity. This is a striking debut from a promising filmmaker.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Kate Tsang’s film debut combines ‘weirdo’ magic with the joy of Asian American family life [Los Angeles Times :: BC-MOVIE-SUNDANCE-MARVELOUS-BLACK-HOLE:LA]
“Marvelous and the Black Hole” will make you believe in magic.
Filmmaker Kate Tsang’s feature directorial debut follows Sammy (Miya Cech), a 13-year-old delinquent struggling with her grief over the death of her mother. After her exasperated father enrolls her in a summer business class, Sammy meets the gruff magician Margot (Rhea Perlman), who is on her way to perform a show for kids. And through this new friendship and some magic lessons things start to change for Sammy.
Kate Tsang has crafted a striking directorial debut in
Marvelous and the Black Hole. The film is a tender examination of how beautifully difficult it can be to find hope in times of darkness and features wonderful performances from a standout cast.
Tsang spoke with Film Inquiry about the film, which is set to make its premiere at the 2021 edition of the Sundance Film Festival.
Wilson Kwong for Film Inquiry: I know that the film is based on some of your own personal experiences, but it’s also not completely autobiographical. Can you talk about how you decided what parts of your life to include, and what parts to change?
2021 Sundance Film Festival Review – Marvelous and the Black Hole
Written and directed by Kate Tsang.
Starring Miya Cech, Rhea Perlman, Leonardo Nam, Kannon Omachi, Paulina Lule, and Keith Powell.
SYNOPSIS:
A teenage delinquent teams up with a surly children’s party magician to navigate her dysfunctional family and inner demons.
As a coming-of-age comedy with a quirky title,
Marvelous and the Black Hole is quite probably the most typically Sundance-y film of this year’s festival. And while familiar to a fault, it mines the flippant charms of star Miya Cech for every drop they’re worth across its breezy 81 minutes.