Superior

Institute History

  • 2021 Sundance Film Festival

Description

When Marian is on the run, she goes to the only place she knows is safe: her childhood home. She is greeted by her estranged sister, Vivian, a stay-at-home housewife struggling to conceive and on the verge of a failing marriage. Though the two are identical twins, they live opposite lives. Marian’s mysterious return disrupts Vivian’s small-town routine, and the sisters must learn to reconnect and reconcile. When Marian's haunting past finally catches up to her, their separate worlds collide, catapulting both sisters into grave danger.

Returning to the Sundance Film Festival with her feature debut—a continuation of her 2015 short, Superior—director Erin Vassilopoulos works with the same sister actresses (Alessandra and Ani Mesa) to further her exploration of identity. Superior is a visually luscious thriller that keeps the tension tight as the narrative navigates between violent memories and two sisters rediscovering their bond. From the music to the set design, every detail oozes style and intention—and heralds the undeniable arrival of a new voice in American independent cinema.

— D.B.

Screening Details

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