NEXT BEST PICTURE: She Dances - Film Review

June 17, 2025

We’ve all seen stories about fathers trying to reconnect with their teenage daughters for whatever reason, but how often do we see these characters portrayed by real-life fathers and daughters? In Director Rick Gomez’s “She Dances,” a recent Tribeca premiere, we get just that. In this case, recognizable actor and Emmy nominee Steve Zahn (who co-wrote the film with Gomez) is acting alongside his daughter, Audrey, making her film acting debut. It’s a revelatory performance, making her opening title credit of “introducing Audrey Zahn” even more impactful. Despite her father’s memorable screen roles over the years, it’s difficult to call Audrey a stereotypical nepo baby, especially as, with this role, she has already cemented herself as a star on the rise. And, while we’ve seen these types of stories before, the personal nature of it and the committed performances from the Zahns (especially Audrey) make it a worthwhile watch.

[...]

For an indie film, David Morrison’s cinematography is surprisingly innovative, including two excellent uses of split-screen that bookend each other in an emotionally impactful manner. Also, a couple of mini-montage scenes help ensure a steady pacing, making the 93 minutes fly by. However, despite its brief length, a side story involving a fellow competitor seems unnecessary and detracts from the central father-daughter relationship.

Read the full article here.

Cinematography by David R. Morrison.