Experience the captivating film, Mountains, which recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival’s Centerpiece program. As I watched, it reminded me of two other groundbreaking films that left a lasting impact. One was the remarkable 2019 film, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, which explored the effects of gentrification on those being pushed out of their homes. The other was the 1960 adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, a powerful story of a man’s dream for a better life for his family.
Combining elements from these films, director Monica Sorelle, along with co-writer Robert Colom, has crafted a deeply affecting and thought-provoking debut feature. Although it initially flew under the radar at the Tribeca Film Festival, its placement at TIFF has given it the recognition it deserves. Sorelle’s previous work on Barry Jenkins’ Oscar-winning film, Moonlight, clearly influences the emotional depth and authenticity of Mountains.
Set in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a place constantly undergoing change, the film follows Xavier (Atibon Nazaire), a construction worker who demolishes houses in the area where he lives. Xavier’s modest yet vibrant home is shared with his wife Esperance (Sheila Anozier), a seamstress and crossing guard. Their son, Junior (Chris Renois), aspires to be a stand-up comic but struggles to meet his father’s expectations. Amidst their everyday lives, Xavier dreams of convincing Esperance to move to a larger home, and he sets his sights on a beautiful white house nearby.
Like Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun, Xavier is determined to make his dream a reality, despite financial obstacles. One of the film’s standout scenes involves Xavier and Esperance exploring an open house, basking in the warmth of the sun in the backyard.
While conflicts arise, particularly regarding racism within Xavier’s construction crew, Mountains is not driven solely by its plot. Instead, it takes its time to present these lives through vignettes, subtly showcasing the fading dreams of Haitian immigrants in America due to so-called “progress.”
Sorelle’s intimate knowledge of the Haitian-American experience in Miami shines through in the film, lending it an authentic and genuine feel. The cinematography by Javier Labrador is crisp and visually stunning. Nazaire delivers a remarkable performance as Xavier, capturing his pride, frustration, weariness, love, and hope with subtlety and power. Anozier brings warmth and charm to her role as Esperance, while Renois adds a vibrant energy as Junior, drawing from his own experience as a stand-up comic.
With a well-chosen supporting cast and a focus on the Little Haiti neighborhood, Mountains is a remarkable debut that leaves a lasting impression. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this powerful film at the Toronto Film Festival.
Title: Mountains
Festival: Toronto Film Festival (Centerpiece)
Director: Monica Sorelle
Screenwriters: Monica Sorelle, Robert Colom
Cast: Atibon Nazaire, Sheila Anozier, Chris Renois
Running time: 1 hr 35 min
Sales agent: CAA Media Finance
