Our take
In the first few minutes of Mass, hushed tones, solemn movements, and awkwardly averted eyes hint at an unspoken tragedy that haunts everyone in the film. The four main characters discuss it during a sit-down, but even then it remains unspeakable; such is the dedication of first-time full-length director Fran Kranz in depicting the reality of tragic events. Not much is done in the way of plot twists and shocks, but in place of those, Mass makes clever use of close-up shots and unmoving settings to portray the privacy and paralysis of grief. For this reason, Mass often feels like a masterful play brought to life, but also more than that, a brilliant portrait of healing—or at the very least, coping with the everlasting aftermath of loss.
What it won
BAFTA
2 noms
Spirit Awards
1 win · 3 noms
Sundance
1 nom
The story
Two couples meet for a painful and raw conversation in the aftermath of a violent tragedy.
Elsewhere
"It's a study of human pain and anger in painstaking detail, supported by a script which is hauntingly realistic without dipping into mawkish or exploitative territory."
— Hannah Strong
"Kranz's direction may not be flashy enough to earn him a spot on Marvel's shortlist, but the careful balance that he strikes between the movie's four lead performances reflects a natural confidence behind the camera."
— David Ehrlich
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
