THOU WAST MILD & LOVELY American Independents

In her sophomore feature, Josephine Decker crafts an erotic drama, filled with psychosexual tension, examining the darkness that lingers in the secrets we keep. Quiet and grounded farm worker Akin takes a summer job working for the oppressive and confrontational Jeremiah, who lives on the farm with his daughter, Sarah. When a sexual attraction blossoms between Akin and Sarah, Jeremiah’s jealousy reveals a dark family secret. Meanwhile, Akin’s own secret is brought to light. Sophie Traub, Joe Swanberg and Robert Longstreet deliver nuanced, complex performances, while lush cinematography by Ashley Conner further elevates this poetic and tragic love story. Decker explores the duality of human nature and female sexuality though a refreshingly unconventional, sometimes experimental approach to storytelling, marking a new distinctive voice in American independent cinema.