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Sweet Thing

Play trailer Poster for Sweet Thing 2021 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The story revolves around the two siblings and their struggle to find solid ground in the homes of Adam, their alcoholic father, and Eve, their negligent mother. The children ultimately run away and find a temporary life for themselves around the town of New Bedford, MA. What begins as a disturbing family drama becomes a rousing childhood adventure that, though tragic, is a deeply moving and hopeful testament to the poetry of adventure and the imagination of childhood.
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Sweet Thing

Sweet Thing

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Critics Consensus

Often heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting, Sweet Thing captures the wonder and horror of childhood with a deft and tender hand.

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Critics Reviews

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Leslie Felperin Guardian 09/07/2021
4/5
This small, delicate, late-blooming film is quite lovely, and a throwback to the 1990s/2000s craze for semi-improvised, rough and ready indie film-making. Go to Full Review Peter Rainer FilmWeek (LAist) 06/22/2021
The connection between the two children was really strong, moving, and rang true. Go to Full Review Travis Hopson RogerEbert.com 06/18/2021
3/4
A soulful, uplifting, but also heartbreaking look at race and poverty's impact on troubled childhood. Go to Full Review Ben Flanagan Vague Visages 09/23/2023
Sweet Thing is creatively shot and bursting with energy, but Rockwell’s biggest ambition is seemingly to replicate a bunch of ideas from other films, to put visuals to his favorite songs and to showcase his talented family. Go to Full Review Kevin Wight The Wee Review 11/17/2021
3
It's rare for a film dealing with such subjects to fall on the side of optimism, naively misty-eyed or not. Go to Full Review Ann Lee Radio Times 09/14/2021
3/5
Even though it paints a bruising picture of dysfunctional family life, Sweet Thing charms with its touching message about childhood resilience. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s 11/05/2022 I was going to give this film a lower rate, only it did pick up after about an hour. It's quite depressing for the first hour. Filmed in black and white, a warts all depiction of youngish kids living in a dysfunctional, neglectful domestic setting. I'd wrongly assumed the kids would somehow run away earlier in the film than they do (apologies for a potential spoiler there). It became somewhat poignant and even hopeful towards the end. It has the feel of 'The Florida Project' I suppose. A sobering watch, with some nice pieces of music used at key moments, this is ok, possibly worth a watch, yeah. See more Steve S 02/22/2022 A super-independent film made from the heart. This is really what can be done on a shoe string budget. Shot in black and white, the story follows a group of kids as they make their way in a poor part of town. Their home life is consists of a drunk father and abusive step-father. Their adventures take them on some tragic and dangerous sojourns. The film doesn't aim to be more than it is, and that is refreshing. The young performances are good and endearing. Will Patton as the alcoholic father is heartbreaking. There isn't new territory here but its heart is in the right place. See more 06/20/2021 Wait until you see Karyn Parsons' performance.,. She was unrecognizable as a negligent mother! Beautiful film! And it is streaming online at https://watch.laemmle.com/videos/sweetthing21491/60a6bfcad61b2c000131c097/ See more Read all reviews
Sweet Thing

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Cast & Crew

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Alexandre Rockwell

Director

Lana Rockwell

Billie

Nico Rockwell

Nico

Jabari Watkins

Malik

M.L. Josepher

Beaux

Karyn Parsons

Eve

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Sweet Thing

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Movie Info

Synopsis The story revolves around the two siblings and their struggle to find solid ground in the homes of Adam, their alcoholic father, and Eve, their negligent mother. The children ultimately run away and find a temporary life for themselves around the town of New Bedford, MA. What begins as a disturbing family drama becomes a rousing childhood adventure that, though tragic, is a deeply moving and hopeful testament to the poetry of adventure and the imagination of childhood.
Director
Alexandre Rockwell
Producer
Louis Anania, Haley Elizabeth Anderson, Kenan Baysal, Jennifer Beals, Sam Rockwell, R.D. Dobson
Screenwriter
Alexandre Rockwell
Distributor
Film Movement
Production Co
Black Horse Productions, Twisted Holdings
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 18, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 24, 2021
Runtime
1h 31m
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