What does it say about today’s climate that the one film which won multiple prizes and topped polls out of this past January’s Sundance Film Festival — Beth de Araújo’s “Josephine” — was picked up by a little-known distributor? No A24, no Neon, and certainly not MUBI.
Back in February, Sumerian Pictures — who? — acquired U.S. rights to the U.S. Dramatic Competition and Audience Award winner “Josephine” in a seven-figure deal, committing to a major theatrical release and awards campaign in the fall.
We now have a very effective trailer for “Josephine,” and this film is certainly going to be a tough watch for many. The story of an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a rape and the psychological toll she endures is not an easy sell.
The scene in question, which opens the film, has Josephine running in the park with her dad, witnessing a woman on a morning jog go into the park bathroom, followed in by a man who attacks, drags her outside, beats her, and rapes her — although shot from a distance, it is very graphic and hard to watch, all while Josephine is a witness to it, just staring.
The MPA stamped “Josephine” with an “R” a few months ago. I do wonder if the rape scene has been trimmed down for its release, not to mention its bow at TIFF next month, but it absolutely should not be edited down. The shock of seeing it lingers with the viewer for the rest of the film, and you are truly put into the state of mind of this young girl.
Starring Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mason Reeves, Philip Ettinger, and Syra McCarthy, the drama was the buzziest title to debut at Sundance this year. Now, I’m sure Sumerian will try its best to push this one for awards contention, but man, as you can see in the trailer, it’s a gloomy account of a child stripped of her innocence.
Sumerian Pictures launched in 2025 and quickly picked up the TIFF breakout “Mile End Kicks” (underrated!). Its other films in the pipeline are ones I haven’t heard of: “Queen of the Ring,” “Turnstile: Never Enough,” and “The Wolf the Fox and the Leopard.”
“Josephine” hits theaters November 20.
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