Khorri Ellis

As intense international conflict again dominates the headlines with tragic stories of loss and suffering, director Nikki Mejia’s feature debut, A Place in the Field, feels particularly timely. Her contemplative, emotionally resonant drama about Giovanni Scuderi (Don DiPetta, who also co-wrote the film), a former soldier grappling with unresolved feelings of guilt and grief that kick into high gear after the death of his best friend, puts a very human face on the long-lasting trauma of war.