Acts of Worship
One woman's inability to conquer her appetite for drugs proves dangerous not only for herself but for those around her in this streetwise drama. Alix (Ana Reeder) is a woman living in New York who is fighting a losing battle with heroin and cocaine addiction. Her boyfriend Mark (Christopher Kadish) has grown tired of her dependence problems and forces her to move out of his apartment. With nowhere to go, Alix must fend for herself on the streets, and she supports her habit by stealing. Mark eventually takes pity on Alix and allows her to come back, but she soon overdoses on heroin, and a nervous Mark drags her comatose body out of his flat and into a nearby alley. Digna (Michael Hyatt), a photographer who has had her own problems with addiction, finds Alix and takes her in over the objections of her boyfriend, Anthony (Nestor Rodriguez). Digna tries to help Alix clean up, but Alix is unable to stay on the wagon, and when she falls back into the cycle of addiction, Digna soon follows her. Acts of Worship, the first feature from writer and director Rosemary Rodriguez, was screened at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. more..
Director: Rosemary Rodriguez
Starring: Ana Reeder, Michael Hyatt, Christopher Kadish, Nestor Rodriguez
It's about individuals, not about sensations. If the characters' backgrounds are not examined in detail, the movie still conveys an intimate sense of who they are and their emotional connections.
Rodriguez makes a promising debut with this unsentimental drama. If she keeps working on her screenwriting skills, she could become a filmmaker to reckon with.
Occasionally becomes melodramatic.
The story is predictable, but Reeder's performance is painfully convincing and the East Village locations so uniformly grimy that they all but weep despair.
An earnest drama that's never quite as raw or moving as it means to be.
Best Debut Performance
Independent Spirit Awards (2002)
Rosemary Rodriguez
Magnolia Independent Film Festival (2002)
Rosemary Rodriguez
Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2001)
Rosemary Rodriguez
St. Louis International Film Festival (2001)
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