Program 8 – Suicide Kale

PROGRAM 8

Narrative Feature

Suicide Kale
Saturday, October 8 6:30 PM LITTLE THEATRE 1

USA / 2015 / 78 min. | Directed by: Carli Usdin

Special Guest:

Brittani Nichols
Writer/Producer/Actor

You and your new significant other are having lunch one lovely Sunday afternoon at the home of your close friends, another couple in a happy, long-term relationship. Everything is going just fine, when you accidentally stumble across an unsigned suicide note in your friends’ bedroom.

What do you do?

That’s the premise of Suicide Kale, a quirky, dark comedy written by out actress Brittani Nichols, who plays Jasmine, the half of the couple who finds the note. To maintain decorum, the only one she can talk to about this sticky situation is her new girlfriend, Penn (Lindsay Hicks, in a star turn). Trouble is, Penn isn’t the kind of girl to take this – or much else – seriously, but they decide to subtly work together to figure out whether it’s Jordan (Brianna Baker) or Billie (out actress Jasika Nicole, TV’s Fringe, Scandal) who wants to do herself in. Of course, it’s not long before Jordan and Billie are wondering why their friends are acting so weird. Add to that the stress of displaying the shiny happiness of their lives, even though they’re both miserable. Then toss in Jasmine and Penn’s anxiety about their very new relationship, and you’ve got the perfect comedy recipe of two couples doing their best not to freak out over their lives, but instead just nod, smile, and enjoy their kale salad.

It will come as no surprise to hear this film is very heavy on dialogue; there’s little to no action, but don’t let that deter you because the four actresses make magic onscreen. Shot over the course of just a few days, it’s a heavily ad-libbed script, which only increases its awesomeness and relatability. All four characters are flawed in major ways. But you like them anyway, so you keep on following. Don’t miss this one.

— Georgia Beers

Official Website

AWARDS/ACCOLADES

Winner: BEST OF FEST LA Diversity Film Festival
Winner: BEST DIRECTOR: CARLI USDIN LA Diversity Film Festival
Winner: BEST ACTRESS: JASIKA NICOLE LA Diversity Film Festival
Winner: BEST FEATURE: Queer Hippo International LGBT Film Festival Houston, TX
Audience Award: US NARRATIVE FIRST FEATURE Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Audience Award: BEST WOMEN’S FILM Queer North Film Festival