In the thick heat of central Florida, Rosie (Nisalda Gonzalez), a musician fresh out of high school, can’t shake her boredom. Before long, she meets Jules (Matthew Leone), a hustler from New York. She falls hard for his streetwise charms and his easy confidence. On the other side of town, Brandon (Tyler Riggs) returns home after a decade in prison, but his transition to life on the outside is dogged by the scars of his past. The summer drags on, pushing these three characters together down a dangerous path.

Expressive and tender, God’s Waiting Room is a meditation on young love, betrayal, and fate—the kind that pulls you toward your calling, and the kind you can’t escape. Riggs, with his debut feature, demonstrates a gift for fiercely compassionate filmmaking, creating the space for vivid performances filled with spontaneity and longing. Sun-drenched and beaded with sweat, this is a beautiful film about people stuck where they are. —Cara Cusumano

Tyler Riggs