THE STORY – Cass (they/them) juggles jobs as a nanny, restaurant server, and party drug dealer in order to make ends meet and pay for their tiny San Francisco apartment. After a one night stand with Kalli, a co-worker they have a crush on, Cass agrees to watch her 11-year-old daughter, Ari, while she goes out of town. But as days pass without word from Kalli, Cass and Ari form a bond that spirals Cass back to their own difficult childhood and the pain they’ve been running from.
THE CAST – Asia Kate Dillon, Louisa Krause, Ridley Asha Bateman, Lea DeLaria, Daniel K. Isaac, Melinda Meeng, Allie Heng, Winter Dewitt, Safia Fredericks, & Sedrick Cabrera
THE TEAM – Elena Oxman (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 100 Minutes
No matter the age, everyone is searching for belonging and company. Like most millennials, Cass (Asia Kate Dillon) is just trying to get by. Living in San Francisco while dealing with terrible landlords and working several jobs (waiting at a high-end restaurant, nannying rich kids, and selling drugs to name a few), their life is beyond hard. At this point, they’re just trying to survive, and surviving in this landscape is exhausting.
So, when Kalli (Lousia Krause), a new attractive woman starts working at the restaurant, Cass shoots their shot. A fun hook-up later, they exchange numbers and Cass texts her the next morning to no response. Hours later, Cass gets a phone call from Kalli, but it’s not to have another date: Kalli has a job opportunity in Reno and needs someone to watch her 12-year-old, Ari (Ridley Asha Bateman). Since Cass has experience with children (and maybe doesn’t want to say no), they agree to watch her. But after a few days of unanswered calls, Cass still finds themselves with Ari and Ari has nowhere else to go.
“Outerlands,” Elena Oxman’s feature debut, tackles the intimate relationship of two lost souls searching for family. As Cass is forced to care for Ari for an undisclosed amount of time, they are forced to reflect on their childhood and current state. It seems that Cass needs companionship just as much as Ari needs a parental figure. The film is about chosen family, self-acceptance, and having the courage to ask for help in a time of need.
Dillon, who is also a producer on the film, is cathartic as Cass. They depict the solemn silence of a lonely soul just trying to survive alone in an environment that’s constantly beating them down. Meanwhile Ari, due to her age, is able to ask the questions Cass has either forgotten or is too old to ask. Their experience allows Cass to reflect on their childhood, especially the abandonment they experienced from their mother. This allows Cass to make an effective impression on Ari and Dillon is able to convey these realizations with single glances throughout the film.
Bateman is also a compelling screen partner, showcasing the emotional maturity thrust upon her at a young age. It’s the moments that Cass realizes the similarities between them and young Ari that are the most effective and they are performed phenomenally by both Dillon and Bateman. Oxman allows the camera to linger on both actors, capturing the mundane abyss both characters are forced into. Both characters have no lifeline and cling to each other to find normalcy and develop a life together because of their unpredictable circumstances. This forces Cass to attempt to grow and become a real adult and Ari to become brave in her voice and advocate for herself.
Oxman has a great directorial voice and uses close-ups and wide shots to allow the audience into her characters’ world. The first half of the film is particularly effective as Cass and Ari get to know each other and reluctantly become somewhat of a family unit. The screenplay isn’t nearly as strong as the direction, which results in a weaker second half as the film mostly relies on visuals and action instead of dialogue. Therefore, certain plot elements in the second half of the film don’t land as strongly as its main themes.
“Outerlands” works best as a film about healing one’s inner child and taking the first steps in that journey. Cass and Ari initially bond over their love of video games, particularly the titular game where the player is an astronaut lost in space searching for a safe route back to their mother ship. The symbolism is there and supported by strong cinematography by Lucia Zavarcikova. It’s in the moments where Ari opens up to Cass and Cass says everything that needs to be said that their relationship is most effective. In these moments, Oxman’s message is clear: It’s truly astounding what basic love, understanding, and inherent kindness can have on an individual. Everyone needs someone to look out for them because when someone has our back, we are allowed to grow into our greatest potential. And that is the best gift we can give to one another.
