City of Trees

This is hands-down the best women-loving-women (wlw) film I've seen. The chemistry between the two leads is what wins the day. It is an honest story of two women falling for each other after years apart. It's so tenderly and beautifully acted by both women and the family scenes are great as well. There is no drama for the sake of it, the love scene is the first authentic wlw scene I've seen on screen, and the pace is perfect. You feel like you are falling in love along with them, and the awkward moments are as uncomfortable as if you were there.

Alexandra Swarens, who wrote, directed and stars in this as Ainsley, is clearly a very talented (and beautiful) woman who had a vision of a wlw love story and executed it to perfection. Olivia Buckle, who plays Sophie, is fabulous, and her growing love for Ainsley is portrayed with a touching sweetness. The only thing that bugged me were Sophie's nails. They didn't match with her being a tree conservationist, and I don't know any woman who would let those anywhere near her.

Other than that, perfect.

I'd be lying if I said that before watching "City of Trees" I had been grouping it in with other corny lesbian Christmas movies. Not only did I love the movie, but it's writing, directing, and acting blew me away! Yes it's a low-budget, independent film, but not in a bad way, rather in a realistic way. It's a very relatable storyline for anyone who has moved away from their hometown after a less than stellar high school experience, only to return later in life and find that people grow-up, and maybe your worst enemies can actually become friends..or more. "City of Trees" is 100% worth the watch, as it is a well above-average, realistic LBGTQIA+ film that will leave you thinking "Wow, I didn't expect that!".

Very indie, and very low budget: the production values here are unfortunate, generally seeming to be on the level of "homemade video." Whether it's advantageous or not is up for debate, but that quality does dovetail neatly into the fact that 'City of trees' is very plainspoken in its tone and unembellished in its craft. By the nature of this picture, and the style it plays with, one can easily conjure comparable titles from more renowned filmmakers or stars - the type of feature that bears a definite narrative, but is so tightly focused as a portrait of one or two characters that the story on hand is scarcely more than a tracing of those lives over a minute span of time.

By all means, these are all understandable reasons why this movie may not sit well with general audiences; the level that filmmaker Alexandra Swarens is operating on is admittedly an idiosyncrasy that one must abide, extending as well to the sound design. Look past the superficial indelicacy, however, and the bare-faced approach to the movie-making lends to a refreshing honesty, and a sense of authenticity. No-frills, and intent on low-grade "drama" in the most rudimentary sense of the word, this is a glance at a somewhat sullen young woman returning home and engaging with her past. Unmistakably austere as it presents, Swarens' writing is nonetheless wonderfully earnest and real, providing for scenes as rich and warm as they are occasionally awkward and silly - just in the way that life can be. That goes for the characters, the dialogue, the scene writing, and the minimal narrative: not especially complex, but unexpectedly engrossing, satisfying, and indeed rewarding in completing this simple, lovely tableau. For that matter, the same description applies just as readily to most everything about 'City of trees' - the music, Swarens' direction, and even small details like hair, makeup, and wardrobe.

Importantly, the small cast is peculiarly perfect. Everyone involved clearly - naturally - adored Swarens' excellent, heartfelt screenplay, and the tack she has taken with the picture, for they all embrace their modest, inelaborate roles with enthusiasm. Even supporting cast members like Joseph Miller, Kate McIntyre, and Andrew V. Perkins illustrate welcome nuance, personality, and range - appropriately attuned to the particular tenor of the feature. In a like fashion but more prominently, Olivia Buckle is sweetly enchanting and certainly capable as kind Sophie - bighearted, with hidden depths. Above all, Swarens herself is all but perfect as protagonist Ainsley, and very relatable - down on her luck, down on herself, and struggling to find peace in her life. Swarens could carry the film all by herself if she had to, with outstanding poise and strength of personality. I immediately want to find more films from all involved, Buckle and Swarens most of all.

'City of trees' broaches familiar thematic and storytelling territory, but with a bare-bones combination of sincerity, genuineness, and unadorned care and film-making passion that makes ever the more endearing and absorbing. To whatever extent one may call to mind similar movies, none are quite like this; Swarens' creation is one all its own. Heartwarming and thoughtful, the final cut far exceeds the humble first impression that it makes upon beginning, and starts to prove itself very early. From the seeming stock footage(!) that opens the picture, to the gratifyingly candid and pleasing ending, I think this is a truly marvelous film: a fine example of the stupendous heights that can be achieved without major studios or lofty financial backing, and little more than drive and a camera. Alexandra Swarens, her cast, and her crew should be mightily proud: 'City of trees' is a tremendous, moving title that deserves substantially more attention and recognition. This is worth seeking out wherever you may find it, and gets my highest recommendation!

I loved the way they developed the story and how multi dimensional the storytelling was. It tenderly touches on the traumas of the past and the actresses have done a great job in showing how those things build as insecurities in the present.

I also loved the warm representation of love. It's such an honest, such a realistic, and such a beautiful movie.

Low production values, so expectations to be managed. Pacing is slow but it fits the story being told. There is no 'big event' in the film. I've watched a lot of wlw films and, despite the budget, this felt very authentic and I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Perhaps one or two scenes felt a little wooden, but on the whole there was good acting and believable chemistry between the leads. A nice little festive film.