REVIEW: ‘Life and Nothing More’
Photo: Life and Nothing More stars Andrew Bleechington as a teenager struggling to have a positive relationship with his mother, played by Regina Williams. Photo courtesy of CFI Releasing / Provided by Film Forum PR site with permission.
Antonio Méndez Esparza’s touching and dramatic Life and Nothing More is a personal look at an African-American family as they try connect, try to find common ground and try to overcome a difficult economic situation. Using nonprofessional actors, the director is able to elicit commanding performances, especially from the central matriarch, played by Regina Williams.
Regina is a working single mother who is raising her teenage son (Andrew Bleechington) and her toddler daughter. The mother works long hours at a restaurant, and when she comes home, she becomes frustrated with Andrew’s attitude. He’s a quiet child, but one who has struggled at school and in life, and he questions Regina about his father. Making the matter even more complicated is Andrew’s growing juvenile criminal record.
This family has a lot of hurt in their life, and Esparza’s documenting of their struggles provides powerful context and real intimacy. The director has the action play out in a realistic manner, almost like a docudrama. The scenes are centered around the daily schedule of Regina’s house, so the audience sees her cooking, cleaning and parenting. The dialogue seems improvisational and organic, as if the camera is rolling on real life.
Williams anchors the film with a towering performance that stands as one of the strongest of the year. She instills the fear of God in her son, especially when he shows disrespect or answers back, but in a moment’s notice, she’s also capable of loving kindness and helpful direction. When she brings home a boyfriend, the chasm between her and her son only grows.
Andrew is also profoundly effective as the teenage son. He does not have much to say because he is introspective and thoughtful. He soaks in the environment and seemingly only talks when it’s necessary. At home, he runs into problems, and at school, those problems follow him. Eventually he is beat up by some school kids and then brandishes a knife for protection.
A pivotal event in the narrative involves Andrew, that knife and an altercation at a park bench. The scene has devastating consequences that further throws the family into a tailspin. The sequence also serves as a firsthand look at race in American society and a test for how far Regina’s love as a mother can be stretched.
Esparza has crafted a modern classic with Life and Nothing More. Currently playing at New York City’s Film Forum, the movie is transfixing and moving, providing context and pause over one family’s journey of living. It’s raw filmmaking that leaves an impression, delivering its powerful messages and drama with intensity and authenticity. It’s brilliant and left this reviewer changed.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Life and Nothing More (2018), written and directed by Antonio Méndez Esparza, stars Regina Williams and Andrew Bleechington. Running time: 114 minutes. Now playing at New York City’s Film Forum. Click here for more information. Rating: 
