Good One

India Donaldson’s debut film GOOD ONE is a coming of age story set in the depths of the Catskills forest, upstate New York. 17-year-old Sam embarks on a three-day backpacking trip with her dad, Chris and his oldest friend, Mat. The two men quickly settle into their masculine dynamic, airing long-held grievances in front of Sam. Wise beyond her years, Sam attempts to mediate the duelling egos of the two men, but her frustration reaches a fever pitch when her trust is betrayed. As Sam struggles with her dad’s emotional limitations, she is finally ready to break free from her role as the “good one” in the family. GOOD ONE captures the universal moment when the parental bond is forever broken, and in the process deftly constructs a funny, grounded, and profoundly sympathetic portrait of teenage girlhood. (kw)