Joey Magidson
It feels like an insult to call Mouse a small story. After all, the emotions contained within these characters, their lives, even, are as important as anyone’s. It’s that realization that provides part of the power for this coming of age drama, one that sneaks up on you with its power. The movie emotional and smart, though most of all, it feels real. Playing at the 2026 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, this is a surprisingly deeply felt flick.
Mouse begins simply, introducing you to friends who you expect to be following for the next two hours or so. That surprising right turn, while not a spoiler, does shock you, throwing audiences for a loop. Luckily, what follows is incredibly perceptive, with a light touch, while never skimping on the emotional quotient.
It’s 2002 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and best friends Minnie Dunn (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) and Callie (Chloe Coleman) have an inseparable relationship. They’re on the eve of senior year and have their lives planned out. The popular Callie is moving to New York, studying at Julliard, and having the dramatic life of an actor. Minnie, ignored by almost everyone but her friend, plans to stay home and a have a simple life, perhaps finding herself in college. Those plans change in an instant.
One shattering moment removes Callie from Minnie’s life, which leaves her feeling lost and alone. Drifting through the performative nature of her classmates’ grief, she instead finds a kindrid spirit in Callie’s mourning mother Helen (Sophie Okonedo), as well as takes tentative steps towards exploring her sexuality with Kat (Iman Vellani). Without saying where things go, there’s a sense that anything is possible, though everything that happens will feel real, given the lived in nature of what’s come before.
The biggest names in the cast are Sophie Okonedo David Hyde Pierce in a nice supporting role, and Iman Vellani (also good), but it’s Katherine Mallen Kupferer who hooks you in and leaves the most lasting impression. She creates this simple and often meek girl, but one we’re immediately invested in. She and Chloe Coleman create a wonderful chemistry, one that really makes you feel her absence. Okonedo gets to show some tender grief, while her connection with Kupferer is notable. In addition to Pierce and Vellani, supporting players here include Addisyn Cain, Christopher R. Ellis, Tara Mallen, Audrey Grace Marshall, Beck Nolan, and more.
Co-directors Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, working off of Sullivan’s screenplay, rarely hit a false note. Truly, aside from a somewhat bloated two hour running time, this is all deeply effective and truly feels real. The 2002 setting doesn’t just lead to impeccable music choices, but also gives you a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. As these characters in Mouse navigate uncertainty, having it set two and a half decades ago does help to give a sense that things will hopefully work out for Minnie and company.
Mouse impressed me, continuing to show O’Sullivan and Thompson as underrated storytellers. This may well prove to be their breakthrough, and even if it’s not, it’s just a matter of time for them. As one of the smaller titles playing the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, there’s an uphill battle to be noticed, but this is strong enough work to do just that.
SCORE: ★★★
Comments
Loading…