Querida Zoe

Dear Zoe is a mixed bag. Sadie Sink obviously gives a fantastic performance, and she shows so much range. Her character is also taken on such an emotional journey throughout the film and everything related to her learning to move on with life after the death of her younger sister is excellent. The movie also was very well directed, so many shots looked beautiful, and the transitions especially early on in the movie were awesome. However the script of the movie leaves quite a bit to be desired. The dialogue is clunky, the love story is very forced and the age gap is questionable to say the least. Story wise the best part of the movie was the relationship between Tess (Sadie) and her father, it felt very natural and the two had great chemistry. The movie had some good emotional scenes and nice performances but the lackluster script holds it back from greatness.

Which is a GOOD thing, if you are a young actress with a long career stretching ahead of you. I am honest in all my reviews, and this one is no different. I watched mainly because, as a fan of Stranger Things, I wanted to see if she had the acting chops to carry a film on her own? She does. This young lady has the look and the talent to become an A-lister. But here is the kicker. A lot of viewers will be drawn to Dear Zoe for the exact same reason I was, figuring that if the film is any good, that is just a bonus. The film, the story, is somewhere between average and below-average. About bad choices made by young people. This particular lead actress, on the other hand, has only good choices ahead of her. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Sadie Sink inhabits the character of Tess, a teenaged girl going through a difficult transition in her life. A horrible accident upends her normal existence and shatters her family on the exact same day America experiences the shock and terror of the 9/11 attacks. Theo Rossi ("Emily the Criminal") also does good work as Tess's father in what could have been a cliched role if a lesser actor had played it. Newcomer Kweku Collins is also fine as a very (un)stereotypical boy-next-door and he and Sink display good and interesting chemistry in their scenes together.

A word about the cinematography in this low budget indie and the word is beautiful. Most independent films simply don't look as nice as this one does. There's a great physical sense of Pittsburgh and its surroundings and I like how the enhanced visuals reflect Tess's heightened awareness during this intense time in her life.

Dear Zoe has both heft and heart and it reveals important truths about both grief and guilt, and how we have to come to terms with these feelings in order to move on with our lives.

I watched this story about a family going through turmoil after a tragic loss simply because Sadie Sink starred. I was not let down by my choice.

The story itself is a simple one of happiness turned to grief, then grief turned to acceptance, and I agree with some that it is slightly predictable and slightly melodramatic.

However I forgive all of that for 3 major reasons.

Sadie Sink is fabulous. She's very expressive and very intelligent with how she is viewed and therefore how she must portray her character. She carries this film easily.

The story is perfectly delivered with all main characters delivering quality results. Some of the dialogue is quote worthy: I loved the Before/After narration at the end. And the directing is very much top level. I loved the way all the characters were developed properly (except David for some reason) and I did feel a connection with each of them as a result.

It would have been easy with the handsome Jimmy and the lovely Tess to have had them fall in love instantly and give us a steamy sex scene to show their passion for each other. However, they were very reserved, only enjoying the odd, brief kiss now and again for some time.

When they did get passionate everything was suggested or hinted. There was not one single bit of passionate face smashing, or orgasmic thrash, or bare breasted chest heaving like we see so much of.

I gave it an extra point just for that. But the other 7 I gave because it truly is a great film about loss and coping and recovering.

Dear Zoe is a poignant coming-of-age drama that explores grief, guilt, and emotional healing through the eyes of a teenage girl. Based on the novel by Philip Beard, the film centers on Tess DeNunzio (Sadie Sink), a 16-year-old grappling with the tragic death of her younger sister, Zoe, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on the same day as the September 11 attacks.

Consumed by guilt and resentment, Tess feels emotionally abandoned by her mother and stepfather, who seem unable to confront the trauma directly. Seeking escape, Tess runs away to live with her estranged biological father, Nick (Theo Rossi), a small-time marijuana dealer with a complicated past. Though he's far from a model parent, Nick offers Tess an unconventional kind of comfort-one rooted in honesty and shared pain.

As Tess adjusts to her new environment, she forms a connection with a quiet, artistic neighbor named Jimmy (Kweku Collins), who encourages her to confront her grief and embrace vulnerability. Through their growing relationship, Tess slowly begins to find her voice and reframe her understanding of love and loss.

The film is driven by Sadie Sink's raw and empathetic performance, capturing Tess's inner turmoil and search for meaning. Dear Zoe does not dwell on melodrama; instead, it offers a grounded and intimate portrait of a teenager navigating the emotional aftermath of tragedy. It also underscores the different ways people process grief-some with silence, some with anger, and some by running away.

Ultimately, Dear Zoe is a meditation on healing, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of family, reminding viewers that even in moments of deep sorrow, there is still room for growth, connection, and hope. Quiet yet powerful, the film resonates with emotional authenticity.

Review written by artist jayakumar jrain.