Hannah Pearl Utt and Jen Tullock appear in Before You Know It by Hannah Pearl Utt, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition an at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Anna Kooris
Now Showing brings acclaimed first-run art house, independent, and world cinema films currently in theaters to the East End.
Stage manager Rachel Gurner still lives in her childhood apartment—along with her off-kilter actress sister, Jackie; eccentric playwright father Mel; and deadpan preteen niece Dodge—above the tiny theatre they own and operate. Level-headed and turtleneck-wearing Rachel is the only thing standing between her family and utter chaos. Then, in the wake of a sudden family tragedy, Rachel and Jackie learn their presumed-deceased mother is actually alive and thriving as a soap-opera star. Now the sisters’ already-precarious balance turns upside down, and Rachel must figure out how to liberate herself from this surreal imbroglio.
“A refreshing comedy… A noteworthy work from an upcoming dynamic duo, co-writers Hannah Pearl Utt and Jen Tullock, who have a chemistry that you want to see in more films, especially if they’re like Before You Know It.” –RogerEbert.com
“Engrossing and entertaining… A strong debut that pushes the boundaries of what movies made from the female gaze can mean to audiences of all kinds.” – The Hollywood Reporter”A low-key charmer that promises great things from the pair.” –Indiewire
“A surefooted debut that promises writing partners Utt and Tullock, who have previously collaborated on their web series “Disengaged” and the Sundance short “Partners,” are as dramatically competent as they are sweetly sardonic. If there’s any justice in the world of festivals, this will open a lot of doors for its creators, who have eccentric chops worthy of a place among indie comedy greats like Noël Wells, Jenny Slate, and Natasha Lyonne.” –The Playlist