Dear Zoe is the story of healing, of carrying on when getting out of bed or performing mundane tasks feels too overwhelming to attempt. It’s the story of the “before and after” – the dividing line between life before a traumatic event and after an unimaginable loss rocks your world.
The Zoe referenced in the title is an adorable young girl who’s showered with love by her mom, dad, and two sisters. Zoe means “life” in Greek, but the child’s tragic death is what marks the “before and after” in the shattered lives of the family she leaves behind.
Sadie Sink, who’s coming off a breakthrough season on Stranger Things, stars as Zoe’s older sister, Tess. Tess had a relatively happy life before the tragedy. She didn’t feel warm and fuzzy about her stepdad, but otherwise, she had a normal home life.
At 16, Tess was dealing with normal teenage issues and then 9/11 hit. While the world watched in horror as terrorists attacked America, Tess and her family were forced to deal with a horror that struck closer to home. Zoe was ripped out of their lives as the result of a horrific accident right outside their house.
Zoe’s death leaves her family devastated and floundering. Grief is incredibly personal, and each family member faces the “after” in their own way while sharing a sense that nothing will ever be the same.
For Tess, her instinct is to flee to her dad’s rather than remain among the walking dead who’ve replaced her mom, Elly (Jessica Capshaw), and her stepdad, David (Justin Bartha). She regrets leaving her younger half-sister, Emily (Vivien Lyra Blair), behind, realizing the child needs her now more than ever. But Tess also needs to take care of herself and that means an unplanned, unannounced stay at her real dad’s house.
Nick (Theo Rossi) lives in a lower-class neighborhood and doesn’t have a job. But he does have a warm heart and a room set up just waiting for whenever Tess pops by. He’s also got a litter of puppies to distract Tess and a willingness to allow his grieving daughter her own space. There’s no pressure at her dad’s place and Tess slowly emerges from under the dark cloud of grief.
Sadie Sink does a phenomenal job as Tess, a teenager forced to face the sudden loss of someone she loved deeply and who emerges stronger from the experience. Tess is flawed and relatable; she doesn’t always make the right choices. Sink’s performance allows us to live each of the heartbreaks with Tess, and also celebrate the moments when Tess allows herself to just breathe.
Most of the lighter, untroubled moments in Tess’s life during the year following Zoe’s death are due to the handsome guy living next door to her dad’s place. Kweku Collins plays Jimmy, a guy that Tess’s dad warns her away from but Tess is drawn to like a moth to the flame. The feeling’s mutual, and their relationship is surprisingly sweet and completely necessary to Tess’s healing process. Collins and Sink have great chemistry, and their scenes are among the film’s best.
Theo Rossi, Justin Bartha, Vivien Lyra Blair, and Jessica Capshaw are terrific, and the splintered family dynamic feels genuine and unforced. Their reactions to the tragedy ring true and nothing is overplayed or feels melodramatic, which could have easily been the case.
Directed by Gren Wells and based on Philip Beard’s bestselling young-adult novel, Dear Zoe walks us through the stages of grief without any sugar-coating. As seen from Tess’s perspective, finding a way through to the other side is a struggle that can ultimately lead to healing. The process isn’t easy but reaching out for help is integral in moving forward.
Dear Zoe weaves incredibly complex themes including grief, guilt, and healing into a compelling coming-of-age story. The film does an impressive job of taking us along on Tess’s journey to reach the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for some teen marijuana use
Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Release Date: November 4, 2022 in limited theaters and streaming
Distributor: Freestyle Digital Media
Dear Zoe screened during the 2022 San Diego International Film Festival held October 19th through the 23rd. For more information, visit the festival’s official site.
