That Time of Year (2002)

A stunning portrayal of adolescent life in the big city, telling the story of five different couples and their experiences in the five days leading up to Christmas.

Director:

Reese Nanavati

Writer:

Reese Nanavati

Stars:

Reese Nanavati, Aimee Denaro, Daniel Burke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reese Nanavati	...	Aariel Kattan (as Tess Nanavati)
Aimee Denaro	...	Nicole Laserik
Daniel Burke	...	David Jefferson
Carlos J. Da Silva	...	Cody Reynolds
Justin Alston	...	Rodney Carson
Carolina Hoyos	...	Nurse Assistant
Alex Scelso	...	Cedric Holtzman
Erica Wylie	...	Erika Jensen
Peggy Duffy	...	Sarah Hayward
James Nanavati	...	Dexter
Megan O'Neill	...	Shaquina Carson
Jason Schaeffer	...	Nick Holtzman
Jason Allen Schaeffer	...	Nick Holtzman
Kristen Salem	...	Lana Kattan
Phillip James Sulsona	...	Isaiah

Storyline

Jeff is a rowdy go-go boy. David is a studious undergrad....unlikely pair? Maybe. Cody was just released from jail and is searching for his mercenary girlfriend Aariel, who's just met her long lost sister Lana, who's pining over school basketball star Nick. Meanwhile Sarah is trying to decide if she and classmate Erika should be more than friends, while Rodney and Nicole battle their racist families with an interracial relationship. Sound confusing? It's not really that hard to follow once you get into the story of this alternately comic and dark drama set in NYC.

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Plot Keywords:

interracial relationship | knife fight | suicide | junkie | new york city

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Taglines:

Sometimes the best time of year can become the hardest time of all.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 2002 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$350 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jagged Edge Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was done handheld totally guerrilla style because they did not have the budget for anything more. It is recently this realistic execution that got the film so much attention.

User Reviews

Well done for what it is

What makes this movie work is the extremely talented actors involved. The film itself had absolutely no budget and was Tess Nanavati's first completed film project, and it shows in a few places. The script could use work and the story is a little choppy. However, the acting is top notch, the best of the best unknown talent. Even Tess, focused on directing, did a very good job pulling off an angry drug-dealer/hitwoman. What made everyone's roles so believable was that everybody was just your normal street kid or college kid. No one had an extravagant role, and therefore it all came together rather well. Carlos DaSilva (who can more recently be seen as a security guard in School of Rock) did an amazing job as Cody, the also street-wise boyfriend who's just come back from being in jail for 2 years. The different stories link together nicely, and you definitely feel some kind of emotion for everyone in the story during the last few scenes. Aimee Muschamp is also a great addition to the cast. What this film lacks is a cohesive, realistic story and top-notch dialogue. However, as a first project, this film was a great stepping stone, and I enjoy watching it.