The first teaser trailer for the independent film Josephine has been released, giving audiences a first look at Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan and young actress Mason Reeves in the Sundance winning drama. The movie has already received major recognition after winning both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Written, directed and produced by Beth de Araújo, Josephine is inspired by her own lived experiences. The story follows eight year old Josephine, played by Mason Reeves, after she witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park. The experience changes the young girl and begins to affect her behaviour and emotional well being.
As Josephine struggles to process what she has witnessed, her parents are also left trying to understand what she needs. Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan play her parents, who find themselves facing the difficult task of helping their daughter deal with the incident. They must also confront their own fears about the subject and decide how they should talk to their child about what happened.
The film focuses on the effect of the experience on the whole family. Instead of showing only Josephine’s reaction, the story also looks at how her parents respond and how they try to support her while dealing with their own emotions.
Josephine has already received a strong response from critics. The movie currently has 89 reviews listed on Rotten Tomatoes and holds a 97% rating. Its critical response comes alongside its two major wins at Sundance, where both the jury and festival audience recognised the film.
The cast also includes Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy and Eleanore Pienta. Reeves has drawn particular attention for her role as Josephine, marking a major opportunity for the young actress.
Tatum and Chan are also among the producers of the film in addition to playing the lead roles. Their involvement gives them a role in the project beyond their performances.
Josephine will be released in select theaters on November 20 before receiving a nationwide release on December 4. The film explores childhood trauma, family relationships and the difficult conversations parents may face when trying to help a child through a deeply upsetting experience.