Sunday, May 14, 2:00 PM, Charles Theatre 1

Director: Michael Cuesta

Cast: Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho, Zoe Weizenbaum, Linus Roache, Annabella Sciorra, Jeremy Renner, Jayne Atkinson, Marcia Debonis, Tom McGowan

Country: USA
Year: 2005
Running Time: 94:00 minutes
Format: 35mm

Michael Cuesta has a knack for exploring the complexities and contradictions of adolescence. As children make their way into adulthood there’s an uneasy mix of fragility and resiliency and desire for freedom and need for guidance that must be navigated by both the child and the parent. As in his first feature L.I.E., Cuesta doesn’t shy away from the sometimes harsh realities of the situation. In Twelve and Holding three close knit twelve-year-old friends; introverted Jacob, precocious Malee, and vulnerable Leonard; head down this path after a loss of innocence sparked by the tragic death of Jacob’s twin brother.

Cuesta is aided by a smart insightful script by Anthony Cipriano and strong performances from his three young leads. Though the characters are dealing with feelings of revenge and the burden of grief, by showing events through these children’s eyes the tone is not morbid. They are beginning to take control of their lives, and though that sometimes results in missteps both great and small there is still a sense of humor as they work towards independence with guidance from parents that don’t have all the answers themselves.

-- Dan Krovich

Presented By: Michael Cuesta

Michael Cuesta, winner of the Best New Filmmaker Award from the Boston Society of Film Critics, made his feature debut as a writer/director/producer with L.I.E. The film was nominated for six Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature and Best Director. Widely acclaimed, L.I.E. premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, and played at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films series, and won awards at festivals throughout the world.

Cuesta is currently adapting the bestselling book “The Miracle of Edgar Mint,” for producers Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe. His credits also include directing five episodes of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Six Feet Under.