Mill Valley Film Festival 44

When ex-skateboarder Lucas' (Pedro Correa) estranged father dies and leaves him a Los Angeles apartment complex, the young slacker travels there from Reno with a plan to sell the building and forget the man he believes abandoned him. But the apartment’s tenants—including Frank (Raymond Cruz), the longtime superintendent who isn’t buying Lucas’ tough exterior, and Sophie (Courtney Dietz), a young woman who, like Lucas, isn’t sure what she wants from life—remember his dad as a different man from the one Lucas imagined. Other compelling figures include a scene-stealing Simon Rex (Red Rocket). Co-writer/director Fabio Frey and co-writer/star Correa's coming-of-age drama deftly navigates identity, perception, and the gap between being seen and seeing oneself. As Lucas confronts the pain he’s bottled up since childhood, his journey becomes an endearing exploration of different paths toward happiness and closure. Clearly, the Frey-Correa team is a talent to watch.