A whopper of an intense psychological crucible. A young woman’s obsession with becoming a competitive collegiate rower is a near collision with madness. Think Whiplash with oars and women that dips into Black Swan over the bow. That is a bit of an unjust summation, but the anxiety and ambition is similar - especially since both paths lead almost to hysterical ruin.
The dark loom of vivid mania overlies every element here - the methodically choppy editing when called for, the menacing shadows that dominate the lighting, the choking obsession that continuously tightens on the script - and it is fantastic. Isabelle Fuhrman is so affecting in her obsessive compulsive spurning of the laissez faire freedom of freshman year to drown herself in the strive to succeed. She is absorbing and passionate. I hope to catch her work in the future. The same can be said for Lauren Hadaway, the writer, editor, and director. Both are talents to keep an eye out for.
