New Year’s Day signifies two things: a celebration of life and the transition from one era to the next, a rebirth of hope for the coming year. Jake and Steven are at the dawn of the rest of their lives; they are on that “edge of seventeen” where dreams remain possible and independence looms large. But everything comes crashing down when tragedy threatens the core of their existence. They are forced to reconstruct themselves or end it all. On the brink of giving up, the boys turn the tables and defy their fate for one more year, a choice that catapults them into an extraordinary and exhilarating time, during which foundations are shaken and everything is at risk. Highly stylized, yet intense and emotional, New Year’s Day details the agonizing complexities of lives struck by trauma. Suri Krishnamma has established his name at the forefront of the talented new filmmakers coming out of Britain by constructing an intoxicating feast, featuring dazzling cinematography, magnificent art direction, and an amazing sound track. The final ingredient that brings it all together is the wonderful performances by the two leads, Andrew Lee Potts (Jake) and Bobby Barry (Steven). They acutely capture the painful wounds of adolescent psyches ravaged by a fatal event and the intensity that precedes the anger and frustration. With its inventive filmmaking, richly layered soundtrack, and captivating performances, New Year’s Day brings an electrifying energy to a perceptive depiction of shattered lives. –Trevor Groth, Sundance Film Festival
