Céline Roustan
Nicholas has a big crush on Tierney – even rehearsing how to go and talk to her. But all his carefully planned words fly out of the window when he gets stung by a hornet and speaking to her becomes a matter of survival. With Tea, writer/director Blake Winston Rice crafts a tender comedy with an undeniable nostalgic charm, taking us back to summer days, first loves and the endearing awkwardness of being a teenager.
When asked about his intentions with the film, Rice shared that he hoped to “tell a riveting story that makes you laugh, cry and hopefully walk away with something”. While the setting of the film is quite universal and the narrative – a teenage boy being afraid to approach a girl he likes – is easily relatable, Tea rises above this familiar foundation to become a memorable short.
Rice builds a touching protagonist in Nicholas, instantly fostering empathy between his lead character and the audience. The fact that he rehearses his speech on camera, and that we see it through the recording, is an effective production choice – adding intimacy and revealing Nicolas’ vulnerability. Rice describes Tea as “a comedy about loneliness”, and that is abundantly clear in the exposition. His balancing of the tonal layers of the film creates a delightfully entertaining film, with just the right emotional depth to move you.
Michael Gandolfini stars as Nicholas – a shy boy trying to work up the courage to talk to his crush.
The sweet mundanity of the situation quickly switches to tension, as an allergic reaction takes over and Nicholas’ struggles to communicate suddenly becomes life-threatening. This urgency completely changes the pacing of the film, as the audience gets immersed in this race against the clock. DP Matheus Bastos heightens the stakes and echoes the state of mind of the female character by playing with the image format. While the work of editor Mike O’Brien and sound designer Ben Chesneau (who has also worked on fellow S/W picks The Ningyo and The Voice in the Hollow) also amplifies the tension, helping to create the film’s frantic energy.
Michael Gandolfini delivers a standout performance as Nicholas, capturing the emotional nuances of the character. He makes Nicholas instantly loveable, showcasing his fragile nature, while also managing to leave room for a dash of humor. Even as his airways are closing, Gandolfini never overdoes it – his performance remaining genuine despite the absurdity of the moment. Lindsay Cullen’s incredible HMU work and Mackenzie Brooks’ SFX makeup work also helps the authenticity of the situation as the allergic reaction worsens. On another tonal level, Olivia Nikkanen (Tierney) is equally impressive. As the scene becomes a back and forth between the two characters, centered in their miscommunication, she adds another touching layer to the story with her character engaging and easy to root for as she tries to find a solution.
Tea had its World Premiere in Competition at the 2024 Festival de Cannes and went on to be selected at multiple festivals including the Palm Springs ShortFest, Nashville and Izmir, ahead of its online debut as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Rice already has multiple projects in various stages of production, including a new short film that should be premiering very soon.