By Amanda Gilmore
First-time filmmakers Mac Eldridge and Tom Dean have crafted a romance that is grounded and raw. It showcases two magnetic performances from indie favourites Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson.
We follow the complicated relationship between Charlie (Robinson) and Harper (Jones) over the course of five years. The two met in high school but then lost touch before rekindling their flame in that tender time after graduating high school. Soon after, they moved to New Orleans together. Before they know it, Harper has her dream job as a chef, and Charlie is stuck in a rut. It’s here that the cracks become exposed in their relationship.
Charlie and Harper meet many times over their lives. The filmmakers have used this as a way to tell their narrative non-linearly. We watch their romance through different moments in time. At the end. At the start. And most importantly, all those moments in between. The moments where our memories become a mix of our emotions. This is what separates Charlie Harper from other romances. Even if it does feel like the common, boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl story.
Eldridge and Dean make a statement on how two people can experience the same moment together, but have different takes on it. At various points, the characters directly retell a moment in their relationship, and there are slight discrepancies in the memory. These scenes serve as poignant reminders of the subjectivity of memory.
Jones and Robinson give impactful performances, and their chemistry is undeniable. Jones is terrific as the ambitious and caring Harper. And Robinson stuns as a young man dealing with addiction while loving with all his heart. They keep us locked into this romance.
Charlie Harper screens at TIFF ’25:
Thur. Sept 4 at 3:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox
Sat. Sept 6 at 2:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
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