Am I OK? is a fun & elegant portrait of love. Romantic, platonic, same… unrequited. Tig Notaro & Stephanie Allynne capture this deeply personal & undeniably authentic narrative with care & finesse. A story that could easily be mishandled by inexperienced storytellers, which is funny considering this is their directorial debut but they manage to deliver a piece that is incredibly special.
The cast shows up big with powerfully endearing performances all around but Sonoya Mizuno and Dakota Johnson steal the show with their charm and undeniable chemistry. Dakota Johnson starts out 2022 with two fantastic performances in one Sundance, reminding us that she is very much at the peak of her career and plans to come down no time soon!
Though all of the cinematic elements are genuinely strong, their simplicity will likely keep them from being remembered, and I actually mean that in the best possible way. Their simplicity gives room for the true stars of this film to shine: the performances and the writing, both of which have nowhere to hide, making the final product that much more impressive. Tight, funny, clever, & authentic dialogue keeps us delighted and engaged. The narrative manages to never quite go as expected, taking twists and turns that play with your emotions but which are, you come to accept, what’s best for the story at hand.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and hope everyone will add it to their watch list. As much as I like their acting I will be looking forward to Notaro & Allyne’s next directorial venture so much more!
8/10
