Brooklyn Film Festival Spotlight: Sweet Parents

Despite the title that indicates a demure nature, Sweet Parents is anything but. This debut film by Leah Rudick and David Bly, features a delightfully real couple in turmoil, multi-faceted female characters, and a unique plot that has to be seen to be understood.

Sweet Parents is one of those rare films that serves as both a window and a mirror. You feel uncomfortable realizing that you have unwittingly peeped inside someone else's life, yet are surprised to see your own reflection staring surprisedly back. In this film the element of realness is always there, you have had relationships like these before. One in where both sides act in best intention, but everyone gets hurt in the process. The fall from grace in this relationship can only be described as happening in a way that deeply roots itself in New York City culture, ambition, and miscommunication.

As I sat there watching with my partner, and keenly reading the room, I saw Sweet Parents evoke a level of participation, unlike anything I have seen. Audience members laughed and shouted at the screen, most even breaking the sacred silence of film to groan at the misgivings of one of the couple. I attribute this reaction to the intensely relatable nature of both the script and detail put into each small movement of the characters. Rudick and Bly have put ten years into writing and producing this film, and it truly shows.  

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Following the showing, I caught up to both Actors/Directors at the nearby coffee shop for an interview

So, how do you think it went?

Leah: I think it went great! I was really happy with the response and the turnout; I was really happy to see it on the screen instead of just a laptop. To put something you make out to a big group or audience can be a bit scary sometimes.

David: We forgot that after ten years of perfecting these one liners that a lot of our script actually elicits a lot of laughter. Especially where there are some uncomfortable situations, and people laugh nervously, we sometimes get used to the comedic aspect of some of those points 

What are you hoping for next?

Leah: Ideally, a distribution deal, a festival run. Just showing it to more people and getting the word out about what we made.

David: Yeah ideally more festivals similar to one we just had. More independent festivals who like to screen movies like ours. I would love to do some more in Canada where I am from.

Leah: Especially that we had the showing there (Windmill studios) it was really special. David started working on it ten years ago, I started working on it five years ago. For a long time, there was a fear that we are never going to make it, but one we decided to take the leap It was a pretty inspiring experience to see how everyone just flooded out of nowhere to help put the film together.

Photos courtesy of Sweet Parents