Trust Movie Review (2022)
An intimate indie drama about three siblings forced back together after their mother’s sudden death, Trust feels close to home in ways that are both honest and quietly affecting.
Being part of a family can be wonderful, but it can also be hugely complicated. It’s a roll of the dice when you are born, and whether you stick with your biological family, your adopted family, or your chosen family, it’s never completely smooth sailing. Humans are human, so you get the good, the bad, and the ugly, even if everyone is trying in their own way.
Trust is about Kate, Josh, and Trini, three siblings who have come together after their mother committed suicide. Having to settle the estate between them and their father, the dynamics of various estrangements and self-serving motives come into play. And while that is happening, they have a hovering Jewish family all up in their space.
I am a huge fan of indie films, and I really enjoyed this one. You see a lot about family relationships in film, but Trust comes at them from a whole other perspective.
All three siblings have serious personal issues that they are contending with, and it gets in the way of figuring out how to interact with each other and how to exist as part of the whole. Kate struggles with depression, Josh is a recovering alcoholic, and Trini is an attention-seeking compulsive liar. Plus, their father has made choices that have ripped the family apart.
Written by Almog Avidan Antonir (who also directs) and Jennifer Levinson (who also stars), the film’s events and interactions feel like they come from a very personal space. The intimate moments of loss, frustration, and hurt are palpable, and although you may have experienced it differently, it’s very relatable on screen.
While the tone is often serious, there are also laughably quirky moments. Being familiar with your stereotypical Jewish family myself, Trust hits all the right notes. There is a scene near the beginning in which the aunts, uncles, and cousins descend on the home just as the siblings are beginning to process what is happening. Everyone is talking, no one is listening to Kate or Josh, and various people are stuck on eating at a local restaurant. If you know, you know, and this could not be more hilariously accurate.
I would have liked a bit more history or information about each family member, which might have connected me more, but this is a slice-of-life piece. The commentary centers on the toxicity of family dynamics and the tendency to get sucked back in by expectations. We have to decide whether the people around us are contributing to our sickness or helping us recover from it, and Trust brings a nice balance of both.
Overall, this is an emotionally raw and relatable film that is character-driven and unflashy, but has hidden depths that will keep you invested. I recommend it.
Runtime: 99 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: Not Rated (I’d say PG-13)
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.25/5 Stars
Available: Free on Tubi and Amazon Prime or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
