A coming-of-age story with more bite than expected, Coast follows four young teens as they navigate their way through a summer in the suburbs of Santa Maria. Strong performances and sensitive direction make this stand out from usual genre entries.
Writer Cindy Kitagawa’s script focuses primarily on Abby (Fatima Ptacek), who lives in a modest house with her mother Debra (Cristela Alonzo), a nurse working night shifts. With her father largely absent (thanks to a transgression no one wants to talk about), Abby’s largely on her own.
Her old friends Kat (an exceptional Mia Xitlali) and Laura (Kaylee Kamiya) are being replaced by out-of-towner Kristi (Mia Rose Frampton), a flashy blond with connections to a visiting rock band. Jealousies, minor betrayals, misunderstandings all serve to cloud choices, spur fights, realign friendships.
Quarrels that will soon seem petty are shattering when they occur, especially in a washed-out, boarded-up, dead-end town. Or at least that’s how Abby sees it. Whether she and her friends realize it or not, their lives are changing, their world shrinking. Teachers and parents gently try to warn them of reduced expectations.
Directors Jessica Hester and Derek Schweickart take a quiet, observational approach to the story. They don’t push emotional scenes, and they take the time to let small moments unfold without comment. That way viewers share Abby’s point-of-view. The shabby bedrooms, boring classes, dusty streets are pushing her away in ways that are very easy to understand.
Through Kristi, Abby connects with Pinata Jones, a rock band led by Dave (real-life musician Kane Ritchotte). Abby’s inchoate dreams of a music career suddenly come into focus, prompting spur-of-the-moment steps that could have drastic consequences.
Which makes Coast sound much more ominous or pretentious than it really is. The miracle of the film is how it shifts viewers’ perceptions without judging anyone. In one small example, Abby makes fun of the Future Farmers of America, but Kat sees agriculture as a way to honor her family’s heritage.
In fact if Coast is about anything, it’s about acceptance, about finding a way to reconcile your dreams with reality.
Inevitably in a film this small there are some shortcomings. Subplots that feel a bit lumpy, like Melissa Leo’s turn as an advice-dispensing patient. The music is filmed live, a plus, but the band’s offstage material feels week. Kristi’s motives are opaque, while Abby occasionally makes choices that feel out of character.
But these are minor problems in a film with such a big heart. Coast captures small-town life so honestly that you care deeply what happens to Abby and her friends. That’s exactly what you want a movie to do.
After its film festival run, Coast was released to streaming on April 8 on Apple, Amazon, and Vudu. It’s also available on Google, Xbox, and Hoopla. The directors praise the mentorship of Bruce Dern, whose partner Wendy Guerrero grew up with screenwriter Cindy Kitagawa in Santa Maria. Although I’m coming late to this, Coast is a rewarding film that deserves your notice.
Top photo: Fatima Ptacek. Second photo: Ptacek and Mia Xitlali.
Directors: Jessica Hester | Derek Schweickart
Writer: Cindy Kitagawa
Producers: Alex Cirillo | Wendy Guerrero | Jessica Hester | Dani Faith Leonard | Derek Schweickart
Composers: Hannah Hooper | Kane Ritchotte | Alex Walker | Christian Zucconi
Cinematographer: D.J. Harder
Editor: Angelica Hester
Casting Director: Faryn Einhorn
Production Designer: Victor Capoccia
