Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan, 2009) plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. Intent on outperforming her teammates, Alex pushes herself to her limits—and beyond, alienating everyone around her in the name of success. Furhman’s fierce lead performance collides with Lauren Hadaway’s bold direction and dynamic editing, creating a visceral window into a cutthroat world. Stylish cinematography and a seductive soundtrack complete the experience, evoking the romance and danger of falling in love; the attraction, the drama and the fallout.
This unapologetic debut from Hadaway, based on her personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, heralds a bold new voice in queer storytelling. If you liked Whiplash, this one’s for you. —Lucy Mukerjee
2021 Award Winner. Get your Tribeca At Home Awards Pass to watch online. See the full list of 2021 Award Winners here.
Lauren Hadaway is a writer and director who comes from the post-production sound world. She’s a 2018 Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellow. She’s from Texas, and she recently relocated to Paris from Los Angeles.