Short Term 12 Information

Short Term 12 is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, based on his short film of the same title and starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher, Jr., and Kaitlyn Dever. The film premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Narrative Feature Award and the Narrative Audience Award. Critical response to the film has been overwhelmingly positive, calling it "a roller coaster of every emotion, managing to be both heartwarming and heartrending at once". The film was released theatrically in the United States on August 23, 2013.

Plot

Short Term 12 is told through the eyes of Grace, a twenty-something supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers. Passionate and tough, Grace is a formidable caretaker of the kids in her charge " and in love with her long-term boyfriend and co-worker, Mason.

But Grace's own difficult past " and the surprising future that suddenly presents itself " throw her into unforeseen confusion, made all the sharper with the arrival of a new intake at the facility " Jayden, a gifted but troubled teenage girl with whom Grace has a charged connection.

She and Mason also struggle to help Marcus " an intense, quiet kid who is about to turn 18 " manage through the difficulty of having to leave the facility. Grace comes to find " in both her work and the new teenager in her care " surprising sources of redemption. And while the subject matter is complex and often dark, this lovingly realized film finds truth " and humor " in unexpected places.

Cast

• Brie Larson as Grace
• John Gallagher, Jr. as Mason
• Kaitlyn Dever as Jayden
• Rami Malek as Nate
• Keith Stanfield as Marcus
• Kevin Hernandez as Luis
• Melora Walters as Dr. Hendler
• Stephanie Beatriz as Jessica
• Lydia Du Veaux as Kendra
• Alex Calloway as Sammy
• Frantz Turner as Jack
• Bran'dee Allen as Shawnta
• Danny Roper as David
• Elyssa Gutierrez as Anna
• Garryson Zamora as Thom
• Michael Marto as Connor
• Tanya Marie A. Bitanga as Nikki
• Patricia Barrett as Tracy
• Zoe Wilkens as Spring

Reception

The film was greeted enthusiastically by critics and audiences alike at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. SlashFilm wrote, "The whole thing just feels perfect or magical, a shining example of what cinema is all about", adding, "The performances are mindblowing, the writing sharp, and the direction beautiful. It's a very special movie." In Variety, critic Peter Debruge wrote "the stunning SXSW fest winner puts the recent Park City competition lineup to shame? this compelling human drama finds fresh energy in the inspirational-teacher genre, constantly revealing new layers to its characters".

The Hollywood Reporter called the film "genuinely moving" and "effortlessly balanced? Brett Pawlak's handheld camerawork and Cretton's unsentimental direction have a frankness that acknowledges the dramatic extremes in these lives without needing to parade it before the audience". Brie Larson's performance in particular has garnered wide critical acclaim, with critic Katie Walsh of The Playlist writing, "[Larson] manages to convey her character as someone fierce and strong and steely, and also utterly fragile, delicate, scared and broken," going on to add, "It's an incredible emotional and physical performance, and she's a whirlwind." "Particularly instrumental in achieving this uninflected realism are locations that look like life."

"What remains is a highly specific world that's always relatably human. Everything feels bracingly authentic from the messy communal spaces, to the cramped offices and empty dorm rooms with cherished mementos from frequently uprooted lives occasionally spotted clinging pathetically to otherwise blank walls. Crucially, the ensemble acting is equally convincing."

As of September 16, the film has received a Certified Fresh rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on eighty-two reviews. The average rating is 8.5/10 and the general consensus is that "Short Term 12 is an emphatic, revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths."

Accolades

At the 2013 SXSW Film Festival, the film received both the Grand Jury Narrative Feature and the Narrative Audience Award. The film has received accolades at various other festivals since SXSW. It received the Golden Rock for Best Narrative Feature at the Little Rock Film Festival and won the Narrative Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Short Term 12 also collected an Audience Award for Narrative Drama Feature at the Maui Film Festival, where lead actress Brie Larson was honored with the Rising Star Award. Writer and director Destin Daniel Cretton received the Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Feature Film at the 2013 Nantucket Film Festival and additionally received a Special Jury Prize for Best Director at the 2013 Sidewalk Film Festival, where the film was also honored with the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. Brie Larson has been widely recognized for her performance, receiving the award for Best Actress at the 2013 Locarno International Film Festival, where the film also received a Special Mention.