Tribeca Festival 2023 Review: “The Listener” – Tessa Thompson Shines in a Compassionate Story!

After 15 years of a directorial hiatus Steve Buscemi is back with The Listener, starring the immensely talented Tessa Thompson. Beth is a volunteer helpline worker who takes on the night shifts. She lives alone with her dog (played by Coltrane, Tessa’s adorable dog in real life) and progresses throughout the night getting call after call from people with a variety of issues.

The entire film is set at her home and Tessa is the only person in the entirety of the film. As a result, screenwriter Alessandro Camon had an obvious challenge to write a film that would capture the audience’s attention when usual film techniques are not a factor. After watching The Listener, it is obvious that Muscemi and Camon have talent for creating an independent film with depth and meaning.

The Listener’s structure is very episodic as Beth receives numerous phone calls throughout the night, allowing the audience to experience each interaction by itself with Beth. Its episodic nature mirrors the experiences of real helpline workers who “meet” new people everyday while also coming to terms with either “losing” them at any moment or never knowing the outcome of the phone call. Just as the audience begins to try to understand the person on the phone talking to Beth, oftentimes the call comes to a close with no idea as to if the caller’s problems will be solved. Anytime a film’s themes and structure coincide, it makes for a worthwhile experience.

The film’s authenticity also lies in the way it captures the essence of Beth’s job, which is to simply listen and provide assistance when asked or needed. People are given the space they need to unpack their thoughts without judgment. In a similar way, The Listener never pulls the audience towards one conclusion as to the message of the film but instead allows them to take what they wish from it and come to their own conclusions. So many elements of this film regarding the filmmaking, plot, structure, and themes fuse together perfectly to create an experience that feels so natural and vital to see.

Also Read: Elemental Review – Heart-warming Tale of Family & Love!

Tessa Thompson portrayal of Beth is amazing in the way she is able to subtly display Beth’s tiredness throughout the night mentally and physically. Not being able to act alongside other people is a challenge in itself and Thompson does a wonderful job making the audience believe she is always acting in response to a real person, when that is not always the case. The Listener is a film that requires some patience in the same way Beth requires patience in her job. However, it is worth the trip because sometimes sitting and quietly listening is the best way to learn about not just others, but yourself.

‘The Listener’ Rating – 3.5/5

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