Carrie Pilby (2017)

Favorite Films

Directed by Susan Johnson

Written by Kara Holden & Dean Craig

Based on the novel by Caren Lissner

Starring Bel Powley, Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne, Jason Ritter, William Moseley, Vanessa Bayer, & Colin O’Donoghue

Date: March 31, 2017 (streaming on Netflix)

Running Time: 1hr 38min

Rating: Not Rated

Carrie Pilby (Powley) is a British born 19-year-old prodigy living alone in New York City. After attending Harvard University, she has spent the following years largely hiding in her apartment and visiting Dr. Petrov (Lane), a therapist and a close friend of her estranged father (Byrne), who still lives in London. Dr. Petrov decides to write Carrie a to-do list of tasks in order for her to become more comfortable with social interaction. The list includes: making a friend, indulging in something she hasn’t in while, have a pet to take care of, going on a date, and spending New Years with someone (the story takes place between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve). As Carrie starts to fulfill the list, her views on sex, romance and the world begin to change her judgment on relationships and humanity.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2016. In November 2016, The Orchard acquired US distribution rights to the film. The film was given limited release on March 31, 2017, in six theaters, and then became available through video on demand on April 4, 2017. The film was the most-watched iTunes film in the independent films category for the first three weeks of its release, then held third place during the fourth week.

I absolutely adore this movie! It’s one I tend to check out at least once a year. I’m always a fan of stories where the main character isn’t always completely likable because it makes them more relatable, especially when they learn some kind of lesson. It’s a bit cheesy in parts (as these kinda of movies tend to be), but I think it worked. It’s well shot with lots of great New York locations on display.

Bel Powley is terrific in the lead role, she’s definitely someone with a bright future. Nathan Lane and Gabriel Byrne rarely fail deliver good performances, both have great individual scenes with Powley. The rest of the supporting cast is solid, Vanessa Bayer in particular as Carrie’s upbeat coworker. I definitely say give it a watch. It may not break any new ground, but it’ll definitely put a smile on your face.

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