A24 has released the first trailer for the coming-of-age drama When You Finish Saving The World. Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, the film stars Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard as a mother and son who struggle to understand one another.
Based on Eisenberg's 2020 audio drama of the same name, When You Finish Saving The World premiered at this year's Sundance Film festival to mostly favorable reviews. In the film, Wolfhard plays high school student Ziggy, who bides his time live streaming his music. However, this concept mystifies his formal and uptight mother, Evelyn (Moore), who runs a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse. The film is set to be Eisenberg's directorial debut.
The trailer for When You Finish Saving The World opens on a comedic note, with Moore's character Evelyn waiting for her son Ziggy (Wolfhard) as they prepare to leave. He tells her, "he'll be ready in five seconds," to which Evelyn looks at her watch, waits exactly five seconds, then leaves. At school, Ziggy tries to chime in on a political discussion with a girl he likes, but he's blindsided by the fact that he has no idea how to contribute to the conversation. We then see Ziggy in his element as he live-streams his music for thousands of viewers.
However, he's abruptly interrupted by his persistent mother, who loudly knocks on his door. Outraged, Ziggy tries to confront his mother, albeit while she is awkwardly in the shower. He tries to explain to her the concept of live streaming. Later at dinner, Ziggy's father (Jay O Sanders) reminds him not to play blues music, as it would be "cultural appropriation," which leads Ziggy to explain that he plays "classic folk-rock with alternative influences."
The When You Finish Saving The World trailer continues as Evelyn reassures an abused mother and her son Kyle, played by actor Billy Byrk. As Evelyn and Ziggy appear to drift apart, Evelyn starts to bond with Kyle. She tells him he's special, saying that most boys his age (including her son) are aggressive and unkind. As the trailer for When You Finish Saving The World comes to an end, things seem uncertain for Ziggy and Evelyn, as they can't seem to see eye-to-eye on anything.
The new film from indie distributor A24 is sure to be a relatable coming-of-age drama about the intricacies of modern-day family dynamics. A24 is known for producing and distributing unique independent cinema, including director Ari Aster's disturbing horror films Hereditary and Midsommar, and Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning coming-of-age film, Moonlight.
When You Finish Saving The World will be released in theaters on January 10th, 2023.
Source: A24 | Youtube