“A Thousand and One” Review
Inez and her young son Terry (Teyana Taylor and Aaron Kingsley Adetola) struggle to build their life in Harlem in “A Thousand and One.”
As someone who lives in New York, I often wonder which film set in the city is the most accurate. The answer is most of them because, depending on what day it is and which neighborhood you’re in, the city can change drastically. Whether it’s the neurotic black-and-white world of Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” or the melancholy depiction of Greenwich Village in the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis,” these portrayals capture the essence of this city. This is also the case with “A Thousand and One,” which marks the directorial debut of A.V. Rockwell and is a powerful story of love, family and sacrifice.
At the end of the 20th century, a young woman named Inez de la Paz (Teyana Taylor) is released from Rikers Island. Seeking redemption, Inez kidnaps her young son Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney and Josiah Cross) from his foster care and raises him in Harlem. Through the years, Inez and Terry’s bond becomes stronger and more complicated as do their perceptions of life, family and the future in this raw portrayal of Harlem.
While not an unknown, Teyana Taylor’s performance is absolutely incredible and she deserves so much more going forward. Her raw emotion is powerful and is one of the most compelling performances of the year. While Inez does commit a crime in abducting her son, the love she has for him and the sacrifices she makes are compelling in her evolution as a powerful mother.
The three actors who portray Terry create a common thread as we see this character grow from a boy with no one in his life into an academically bright young man with so much potential. As a boy, Aaron Kingsley Adetola brings a beautiful sensitivity to Terry while saying very little. Aven Courtney and Josiah Cross continue this quality when Terry is 13 and 17-years-old respectively.
Seeing how this family transforms through the years is what makes “A Thousand and One” such a masterful film. Inez and her love interest Lucky (Will Catlett) start off as two people broken by the environment around them who find meaning in raising Terry. It’s a beautiful visualization of the power of family and is capable of bringing smiles and tears, sometimes at the same time.
What’s even more impressive, aside from the performances, is that “A Thousand and One” marks A.V. Rockwell’s first film as a director. For such an incredible story to be her first film and win the Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival is remarkable. It’s also completely understandable when you see the beauty and passion that are injected into the film. Rockwell’s direction and screenplay feel like the best elements of the great New York directors like Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese.
Complimenting Rockwell’s vision is the gorgeous cinematography by Eric K. Yue. The film’s beautiful depiction of Harlem comes from raw sincerity. I wouldn’t call this a romantic depiction of the city as there are real world events affecting the neighborhood including crime, gentrification and racism. However, it’s a loving sendup to the land north of Central Park and the people and stories it holds.
To call “A Thousand and One” a good movie would be an understatement as to just how commanding it is. It’s an impressive debut from a filmmaker that I think will become a rising star alongside the likes of Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig.
