Alice - A Sundance Review

The whole world is out there. Don’t you see it?

Alice premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022. A slave escapes from her cruel owner and runs from her plantation. Alice discovers a shocking secret about the world she has been living in her entire life.

The Sundance Film Festival is filled with an amazing variety of films. Alice is an audacious film. Based on a story that you wouldn't believe was true, Alice teaches viewers to look out into the world and explore what’s out there.

Keke Palmer is astounding in her deep performance. I have seen Palmer in other media, such as True Jackson V.P. She achieved raw emotion. I love the way her eyes carefully studied a scene.

Palmer’s tentative work and research to this role made her performance all the more powerful. Mistreated her entire life in the horrible life as a slave, Alice is a brave woman. Making a discovery that alters the perspective of her life, Alice is not afraid to take a stand.

All characters invest in their roles. Just because he had a small role it did not make Jonny Lee Miller any less intimidating. He even scared me. Gaius Charles, Kenneth Farmer, Alicia Witt, Natasha Yvette Williams, and several others did a superb job.

The interactions between Alice and Frank (Common) are the best moments. Because Alice has no idea what to make of Frank’s world, both reactions were funny. If you think about it, they’re not so different.

Having lost hope because of his race, they teach one another that they can do more than they think. Common was deep in his role. I liked his connection to the character. Never let anyone define who you are. Aside from acting in the film, Common also helped with the score. Talking with the director prior to filming, the score balanced the story.

Alice takes place during a significant time period. Developing two contrasting times, production nailed the wardrobe and hairstyles of a particular era.

As soon as you watch this film, listen to behind-the-scenes fun facts. Kristen Ver Linden conquered remarkable results in her debut direction. Taking the time to research the history of the events, Landen told this true story as it was. I also liked her style of cinematography. Acting as the perspective, the camera held its attention to objects of value.

Making this film has a history as well. Filmed during the summer of 2020, issues like COVID, a short shooting schedule, and filming in the chaos of rallies during the presidential election in the deep south made production tough. It was a significant time for everybody. Not letting those factors hinder filming, Alice is a work of history.

There are still so many things that we don’t know about regarding slavery. This film vocalizes it from a different perspective. Films are a form to showcase events from history in a different way. It takes one person to start a conversation.

I had no idea that situations that happened in the film were still occurring. Alice is a film that you don’t forget. We should not shut out history nor should we evoke cruel events. The climax will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I am so honored to have watched this film at its premiere. Take caution as Alice portrays heartwrenching sequences of the negative impacts of slavery. Depictions of graphic violence and even sexual assault are implied. Once Alice is out in theaters or on any streaming service, I beckon you to watch it. It is unforgettable.