This year’s Edinburgh Film Festival saw 43% of the films that made up the festival’s program being directed by a female filmmaker. While not every film was a masterpiece and some were actually quite disappointing, there were some that were some real gems that had at their core very complex female characters who were attempting to find their place in the world. Stephanie Turner’s Justine follows this theme of a woman desperately trying to find meaning in her world and come to terms with her grief and loss. Lisa (who is played by Turner) is a mother who has somewhat rejected her responsibilities of motherhood. However, we come to understand that her actions aren’t the result of selfishness or spite but rather because she is in a deep state of depression after losing her husband.
With no real income, Lisa and her two young children are living in the garage of her father-in-law Papa Don’s (Glynn Turman) home. Papa Don does his best to try and hold together the family unit, for example, he cooks dinner every night in an attempt to create some sort of normal routine. Lisa resents his help, and there’s a tension between the two. Lisa is the type of individual who is fiercely independent and she is determined to prove that she can look after herself and her children. We find out that her husband died during military service although the exact cause is still under investigation. With virtually no other opportunities for work, and in the desperate need for money Lisa takes on a new job as a nanny.
Lisa’s new job role is to take care of Justine (Daisy Prescott), a young girl with spina bifida. Justine’s parents are successful real estate professionals and don’t have the time to be with Justine all day. In typical helicopter parent fashion, they are so overprotective of Justine that they have kept her out of public school in fear of what the other kids might do or say. Justine is a lonely child, who talks and plays games with herself (she loves to pretend she is on a TV talent show like ‘The Voice’) and she is quite shy. Lisa grows closer to Justine and sees the true potential that lies inside Justine.
Lisa helps Justine learn to stand up for herself after being bullied by some snobbish girls in the playpark, in a rather amusing scene where Justine delights in calling the girls ‘bitches’. However, Lisa’s biggest issue lies with Justine’s overprotective parents who also happen to be casually racist (something that is revealed when Lisa brings her mixed-race children to play with Justine). Ultimately, Lisa has to come to terms with the loss of her husband and find the strength to resolve her issues with her father-in-law for the sake of her children.
Stephanie Turner really shines here, not only as an actress but as a writer and director. She manages to weave together a complex case study of the stages of grief, showing how the grieving process is made up of stages of denial, anger, guilt and ultimately acceptance. We get the sense that this story is coming from a very personal place inside Turner. With her performance as Lisa, she manages to tap into how grief can leave a person as a shell of their former self who is left simply existing in the world. Turner’s character is exactly likable, she comes across a rude and aggressive at times but it is clear to see that Lisa is an empathetic character who stands up for those in need.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, especially Glynn Turman. While Lisa is hot-headed, Papa Don is laid back and cool. However, there is a complexity to his character as he tries to come to terms with the loss of his son and the welfare of his grandchildren. The scenes between Turner and Turman help to showcase both actor’s abilities, and they support each other in order to give the viewer the best possible performance.
This is very much Daisy Prescott’s film as well as Turner’s. Prescott is so likable as Justine with her beaming, earnest smile and wide eyes full of determination. Like the scenes between Turner and Turman, both Prescott and Turner seem to bounce off one and another. Prescott’s performance is very reminiscent of Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), full of energy and enthusiasm that seems infectious. Like Olive in Little Miss Sunshine, Justine is another little girl who wants the world to see her for who is really is…a talented individual with a beautiful soul.
The production process for Justine was extremely long, Turner wrote the script about five years ago and spent years trying to find the right director before deciding to step behind the camera as well as being in front of it. It’s hard to imagine anyone else directing such a powerful, and charming film in the same manner as Turner who captures the true essence of the friendship between Lisa and Justine. Her passion for filmmaking shines through and she proves to be a very capable director who can work with a limited budget and tell a story with a distinct voice.
There are a few niggles to be had, for example, the script feels a little cliched and predictable in places and the film’s ending feels wrapped up way too quickly. Still, this is such a charming, heart-warming film that needs to be seen by as many people as possible. Like, The Florida Project (2017) and Little Miss Sunshine, Justine is destined to become an indie classic and one can only hope that Hollywood pays attention to both Turner and her equally talented co-star Daisy Prescott, because they deserve it.
