In the film Echo Park (out now), Sophie flees her bourgeois lifestyle and moves to LA’s Echo Park, where she meets Alex, an expat moving back to London, while buying his couch. Alex shows Sophie around the neighborhood, where he is well-liked and has made even a pocket of L.A. seem like a small town community. Because Alex is leaving L.A. shortly, the two invest in a low-risk relationship with a pre-set expiration date. As the date gets closer, the consequences of the emotional predicament they find themselves in begins to materialize.
The simple plot of the film allows the focus to be on the talent of actors Mamie Gummer and Tony Okungbowa, as well as beautifully shot cinematography, thanks to director Amanda Marsalis. Instead of distracting with flashy movie clichés and overly contrived plotlines, Echo Park simply enables the audience to stay with the immediately likable characters and live with them for a while at a poignant moment of their lives.
The way the scenes are shot is particularly noteworthy and impressive for a 15-day shoot. Those with an appreciation for photography will find the film particularly enjoyable, as it’s easy to see that the director incorporated her background in photography to manifest a visually delightful film as well as an engaging story.
Echo Park has a limited release in NY and LA and is available for streaming on Netflix.
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