For some of us, our greatest fear might be the day we have to endure the loss of our parents. Second may be giving their eulogies, followed by handling their remaining affairs and taking care of their things. It’s a difficult and daunting process as it is, but throw in tense family dynamics and everything becomes, somehow, even worse. It’s these feelings that are at the heart of writer-director Courtney Marsh’s narrative feature debut, Where Did the Adults Go?.
“I have a harder time because of accessibility, not disability.”
Following the loss of both parents, Cynthia (Carey Cox) and her two brothers have a standing agreement: Every year on the anniversary of their death, they all meet at the old family beachfront home in California for a night of reminiscing before having brunch at their parents’ favorite restaurant. Real-estate broker Bryce (Amadeus Serafini) arrives, tense and overly serious from the start, while college kid Miles (Carson MacCormac) shows up expectedly late.
It’s revealed that after the success of her first book, Cynthia quit her job to become a full-time author; however, money is a bit tighter than expected for her and her partner. In an attempt to stabilize her life, she floats the idea of selling the summer home to her brothers. Miles is open to the idea, but Bryce shuts it down immediately, igniting a three-way argument that harbors repressed emotions about more than they realize.
A Tense, Tight Drama
Though known for her work on documentaries, including the feature-length Bottle Conditioned and her Oscar-nominated short documentary Chau, Beyond the Lines, Marsh has made a strong narrative feature debut with this film. Confined to one location for most of the runtime and propelled by the script, Where Did the Adults Go? could very well work as a play in addition to a film. It’s dialogue-heavy and character-driven, without feeling like it’s lingering too long on one moment, and it feels pretty natural as the plot progresses. Marsh guides her cast through this beautiful, insane home that clashes with the sadness and anger that fuel every interaction, every argument the siblings have.
Cox, perhaps best known for her role on The Handmaid’s Tale, takes her first leading role here, but from her performance you’d never guess. She portrays Cynthia with a vulnerability that is palpable, and as a creative, I felt her pain in taking the leap into a full-time gig only to have it backfire. MacCormac’s natural energy and charm seem almost effortless in his role as Miles, and in addition to the comic relief he occasionally brings, he also approaches his more dramatic scenes with ease. Serafini, on the other hand, is maybe too good at playing someone so unlikeable, yet depending on your perspective, you may be inclined to agree with him sometimes.
Where Did the Adults Go?: Hopefully to See This
Where Did the Adults Go? is a solid narrative debut from an experienced filmmaker. The script is solid and well-acted by a more than capable cast. In addition to being an engaging film, Marsh also deftly weaves in her advocacy work via the character of Cynthia, portrayed by Cox who herself uses a wheelchair. The story is one that anyone who’s ever dealt with loss can relate to, and certainly anyone who’s bickered with a sibling can understand. I look forward to keeping an eye on Marsh’s next work, either narrative or documentary.
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