Movie spotlight
Struggling but unapologetically living on her own terms, Inez is moving from shelter to shelter in mid-1990s New York City. With her 6-year-old son Terry in foster care and unable to leave him again, she kidnaps him so they can build their life together. As the years go by, their family grows and Terry becomes a smart yet quiet teenager, but the secret that has defined their lives threatens to destroy the home they have so improbably built.
In a reimagined Harlem of 2005, a fiercely dedicated mother named Inez snatches her son Terry from the foster care system. Determined to build a better life for them, she embarks on a perilous journey, constantly moving and hiding to protect him. As Terry grows and yearns for his true family, Inez must confront the sacrifices she has made and the secrets that bind them.
A Thousand and One received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for A.V. Rockwell's assured directorial debut and Teyana Taylor's powerhouse performance. Critics praised the film's emotional depth, its authentic portrayal of motherhood and survival in New York City, and its poignant exploration of identity and belonging.
A powerful and deeply moving exploration of a mother's unwavering love and sacrifice.
Teyana Taylor delivers a career-defining performance that anchors the film.
A.V. Rockwell's confident direction crafts a vivid and authentic portrait of Harlem.
Google audience: Audiences lauded the film's emotional impact and Teyana Taylor's incredible acting. Many appreciated the realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by mothers and the vibrant depiction of New York City.
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Director A.V. Rockwell drew inspiration from her own upbringing and experiences in Harlem for the film's narrative and setting.
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A story about a mother-son relationship and how it changes over the course of a decade. With a background setting of New York in the 90s and 00s, the movie depicts how issues like poverty, crime, race, and gentrification interact. Well acte...
It’s been said that a mother’s love for her child runs so deep that she’ll do virtually anything to protect her young. But is it possible to carry things too far? That’s a question raised in writer-director A.V. Rockwell’s debut feature abo...
This features quite a strong performance from a convincing Teyana Taylor. She is "Inez" who decides that she wants to reclaim her young son "Terry" from his life on the streets of New York. What now ensues illustrates quite well the difficu...
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