Lilli Keeve
In his debut indie film that he also wrote, Urchins, Florida-native filmmaker Adam Rioux captures the spirit of youth and the beauty of freedom as a group of young adults travels across the Sunshine State. The movie follows the quiet Ari (stunningly portrayed by Nickelodeon actress and singer Breanna Yde), a college freshman who is in the midst of overcoming a devastating loss and trying to figure out her place in the world. While on spring break, Ari encounters outsiders Elijah (Ted Sutherland from Netflix’s Fear Street series), Jack (Trae Romano), and Izzy (Sam Drust), and becomes captivated by them. She goes on a life-altering adventure that makes her focus on what her heart deeply desires.
Drawing creatively from influences such as Lady Bird, American Honey, and Mid-90s, as well as personal experiences, Rioux crafts a touching, funny, and raw portrayal of moving through life without a roadmap and the people and moments you encounter along the way. Set against the luscious backwoods of Florida, Urchins taps into universal themes and interweaves self-exploration into the inspiration that nature emanates.
Much like the characters’ youthful aimlessness, Rioux’s film has an unstructured presence, floating from one event to the next. Ari is an outsider, an immigrant on scholarship, with expectations to make something of herself and succeed. She constantly soaks everything in, savoring each moment, almost as if she will never experience them again. Time is fleeting, but when you’re young, it’s as if things might last forever.
Certainly, the breathtaking, naturalistic cinematography by up-and-coming DP Tom Ford and the vibrant, marshy landscapes capture the unseen, less glamorous side of Florida, elements essential to Rioux in telling this story. The primary characters of Urchins, or “degenerates” as Elijah calls them, are also figuring out their lives without any resources or motivation. Sutherland’s character, Elijah, a former high school football star, has no future. Elijah and Ari form a close connection over the course of the film. During one of my favorite scenes between him and Ari, he says, “You know how bad you wanted something when you were a kid and it just doesn’t turn out how you expected it?” It encapsulates the harsh reality he and his friends face and how growing up might mean giving up what you were once passionate about.
While on this eye-opening journey, Ari comes to crucial realizations about herself and decides to pursue something she’s always loved: surfing. Only by veering off the beaten path and embracing spontaneity did she have a revelation about her calling and what she’s meant for. Sometimes embracing uncertainty without a plan is the most fruitful thing you could ever do, and the pure bliss of going where your intuition guides you is liberating. The time Ari spent getting to know Elijah, Jack, and Izzy is a significant chapter in her book, one that’s still unwritten.
In an impressive debut, Rioux demonstrates keen sensitivity and sensibility for grounded storytelling and creating authentic characters. Using the environment as a character is striking, lending a sense of synchronicity between nature and humanity. Yde and Sutherland have wonderful chemistry and are breaths of fresh air. Rioux’s vision is wholly unique, and his emphasis on the sanctity of the natural world urges you to appreciate life and not take anything for granted.
