Suncoast

Suncoast is an understated coming-of-age film that follows Doris (Nico Parker), a teen trying to navigate her social life while her brother is dying in a hospice. With themes of family, motherhood, child death and regret, it would be hard for this film not to tug on the heartstrings. Despite its sucker-punch ending, Suncoast skates over the potential it has to truly become an unforgettable indie classic.

Nico Parker is subtly perfect, playing sweet but tired Doris, desperate to be more than the sister of a dying brother. While her mother sleeps at the hospice, Doris invites her new friends around for keg stands and strip poker. Some may scoff and ask why she’s not sad about her brother’s predicament, but the beginning of the movie shows how difficult it has been for Doris as the glass child – invisible, inconsequential and secluded. It’s hard to dislike her as a character: as a viewer, you can sense the split she feels between the loss of her brother and the loss of herself – and she chooses to find only one.

It seems as though the film had two mood boards – one of parties and low light as Doris finally comes of age, and one of pale mornings and hospital bed sheets. The tonal difference can at times be jarring, but it allows for moments of relief dotted throughout the heavy themes. Woody Harrelson’s character, Paul, is instrumental in these moments. Although his scenes are always conveniently placed when Doris needs an outside voice, the joy in them is welcome.

The tone also conveys how Doris is feeling: her two lives couldn’t be more different, and yet she is forced to balance them, seeking one while avoiding the other, with guilt towering over it all. This premise seeks a devastating emotional collapse, but it only follows through right at the end. 

Laura Linney is, as always, fantastic. She plays Kristine, a mother whose life is so overwhelmed by her sick son that she too often forgets she has another child. Any scene with this knotty, heartbreaking character immediately spurs the film. Whether it’s her moments of weakness where her disregard for Doris feels unsalvageable, or those where she breaks down, Kristine is the rawest character we see. It’s a shame that she’s underutilised; the scenes with her and the grief counsellor are some of the best in the film, and a deeper look into her character would have added significant weight.

Ultimately, Suncoast is a solid attempt at tackling difficult themes with levity. It may lack the gritty depth needed at times, but it’s an authentic look at an impossible familial situation, asking us to choose empathy – and to realise we’re all just trying our best.

Talitha Stowell

Suncoast is released on Disney+ on 9^th February 2024.

Watch the trailer for Suncoast here: