Growing up in South Carolina and now based in Chicago, the self-taught and quietly prolific Stephen Cone has developed an attentive signature style that feels distinctively different from the usual fare found on the New York/Los Angeles independent cinema scenes. A queer filmmaker, Cone once joked that his films are “only about 47% gay.” Indeed, while many of his works explore sexual fluidity or the thorny process of coming to terms with one’s sexuality, they also probe the evergreen, deeply humanist process of existential questioning, whether on matters of faith or family history.
The three films in our triple bill—The Wise Kids, Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party, and Princess Cyd—are beautiful, sensitive coming-of-age films. Yet the young ‘uns are not the only ones stumbling against life’s curveballs. Unlike many other movies of the same genre, here the adults never come off as villainous or oppressive. Instead, they too are off-balance in the present, doubtful about the future, and restless about the past. Cone, who also writes his own films, imbues not only the characters, but also the minute details of the environments they inhabit, with acute empathy and care. A testament to Cone’s talent for directing ensembles, these three films are uncommonly attuned to the way people actually speak. Amidst the deceptively light dialogue, pauses can give way to either shattering realizations or startling awakenings. This ability to draw out pathos in the everyday cements Cone’s status as one of the most exciting independent filmmakers in American cinema today.

Growing up in South Carolina and now based in Chicago, the self-taught and quietly prolific Stephen Cone has developed an attentive signature style that feels distinctively different from the usual fare found on the New York/Los Angeles independent cinema scenes. A queer filmmaker, Cone once joked that his films are &#8220;only about 47% gay.&#8221; Indeed, while many of his works explore sexual fluidity or the thorny process of coming to terms with one&#8217;s sexuality, they also probe the evergreen, deeply humanist process of existential questioning, whether on matters of faith or family history.
The three films in our triple bill&#8212;The Wise Kids, Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party, and Princess Cyd&#8212;are beautiful, sensitive coming-of-age films. Yet the young &#8216;uns are not the only ones stumbling against life&#8217;s curveballs. Unlike many other movies of the same genre, here the adults never come off as villainous or oppressive. Instead, they too are off-balance in the present, doubtful about the future, and restless about the past. Cone, who also writes his own films, imbues not only the characters, but also the minute details of the environments they inhabit, with acute empathy and care. A testament to Cone&#8217;s talent for directing ensembles, these three films are uncommonly attuned to the way people actually speak. Amidst the deceptively light dialogue, pauses can give way to either shattering realizations or startling awakenings. This ability to draw out pathos in the everyday cements Cone&#8217;s status as one of the most exciting independent filmmakers in American cinema today.

Awakenings: Three by Stephen Cone

AWAKENINGS: THREE BY STEPHEN CONE

The quietly prolific, Chicago-based Stephen Cone has an attentive signature style that is distinct from the New York/LA independent cinema scenes. His coming-of-age films not only explore the thorny process of navigating one’s sexual identity but also probe deeply humanist, existential doubts.

The quietly prolific, Chicago-based Stephen Cone has an attentive signature style that is distinct from the New York/LA independent cinema scenes. His coming-of-age films not only explore the thorny process of navigating one&#8217;s sexual identity but also probe deeply humanist, existential doubts.