Test Pattern

Directed by Shatara Michelle Ford

Release Year: 2020
Running time: 82
Country: U.S.
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Thriller
$349.00 - With PPR
$499.00 - With DSL
$499.00 - With DSL and PPR
MSRP: $599.00
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Directed by: Shatara Michelle Ford
Writer: Shatara Michelle Ford

Part psychological horror, part realist drama, this exhilarating debut feature from Shatara Michelle Ford is set against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #metoo movement, and race in America. Test Pattern follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. Their story reveals the systemic injustices and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy. Winner of top prizes at the BlackStar and New Orleans Film Festivals, this gripping social thriller offers a unique exploration of institutional racism and sexism from a Black woman's point of view. Content warning: This film includes a depiction of sexual assault.

Reviews

"A film poised to become one of the year’s must-see indie gems... one the year's first true discoveries."

- Kate Erbland, Indiewire
 

"A staggeringly impressive debut… It's a cinematic achievement.”

- Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter
 

Test Pattern offers a fresh way of examining sexual assault and its aftermath on screen, one that feels just as emblematic of its moment as Thelma & Louise.

- Soraya Nadia McDonald, Film Comment
 

“A brilliant debut… whose intellectual impact feels almost physical in its intensity.”

- Richard Brody, The New Yorker
 

“Stunning in its examination of blackness, whiteness, gender, and class… This is talent. Pure, plain and simple.”

- K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone
 

“Intelligent and engrossing… [a] quietly momentous first feature.”

- Jessica Kiang, Variety
 

“Transposes the discourse around the #MeToo movement from whiteness to a Black female lens. In line with... I May Destroy You, it’s part of an indispensable breakthrough in media.”

- Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times
 

“An engrossing human drama, one that examines the intersections and inequalities between race, gender, and healthcare in a poignant and powerful way.”

- Monica Castillo, RogerEbert.com
 

“A searing, yet nuanced, interrogation of the racism and sexism baked into our society at every level... Strikingly punctuates the detachment of realist drama with the expressionism of psychological horror.”

- William Repass, Slant Magazine
 

“Signals an absolute powerhouse talent…  feels like a revelation.”

- Scott Renshaw, Salt Lake City Weekly
 

“Ford demands that we work to believe this Black woman’s experiences.”

- Selome Hailu, Austin Chronicle
 

"Ford has unfurled a story — and a burgeoning career — worth considering long after."

- Kate Erbland, Indiewire
 

“A gripping movie with first-rate performances… an eyeopener.”

- Sarah Fenske, St. Louis Public Radio 
 

“A slow burn movie done right… with brilliant performances by Hall and Brill.”

- Cal Gesner, Film Snob Reviews
 

“Shatara Michelle Ford has an assured, unique visual storytelling style.”

- Jason Green, The Arts STL
 

"Gripping and powerful."

- Tom Stockman, We Are Movie Geeks
 

Awards

Nominee: Best Feature, Breakthrough Director, Outstanding Performance – Gotham Awards

 

Winner: Lionsgate/STARZ Producer Award – BlackStar Film Festival

 

Winner: Jury Award – New Orleans Film Festival

 

Winner: Special Jury Award – DeadCenter Film Festival

 

Official Selection: Mill Valley Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, St. Louis Film Festival, Virginia Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, Tacoma Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival

 

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