Jennifer Esposito’s Riveting Crime Drama

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• The Complicated Relationships in Fresh Kills

• A Fantastic Representation of ’80s and ’90s New York

Summary

• Jennifer Esposito shines in her directorial debut, offering a fresh perspective on the impact of crime on women in a mob family.
• Emily Bader and Odessa A’zion deliver outstanding performances, driving the narrative forward with complicated relationships.
• Fresh Kills
  captures the essence of ’80s and ’90s New York with a fantastic production design and killer soundtrack.

Mafia films have long captivated audiences with thrilling depictions of macho Italian gangsters and their illicit criminal activities. What’s rarely seen is how murder, secrets, and lies affect the women trapped behind a dark facade of normalcy. Fresh Kills offers a gripping and intensely dramatic change of perspective. Jennifer Esposito, astounding in her feature directorial debut, pulls the curtains back to reveal the turmoil of a mother and her two vastly different daughters in a mob family. They pick up the pieces and suffer brutal consequences of choices supposedly made on their behalf.

In 1987 Staten Island, New York, Rose (Anastasia Veronica Lee) and her older sister Connie (Taylor Madeline Hand) watch as their father’s men unload boxes from a moving truck. Connie likes to play rough. Rose never speaks. They are polar opposites. The girls hide in the garage when their father arrives. Joe Larusso (Domenick Lombardozzi) chastises a bumbling capo for his ineptitude in dealing with an important matter. Rose can see a gun in her father’s belt. The girls duck down in his car as he closes the garage door.

Later that night, their mother, Francine (Esposito), complains about the stench wafting through the kitchen from the Fresh Kills landfill. The new house may look beautiful, but everything around them stinks. Joe shrugs off her complaints. They’ll get used to it. Joe decrees there’s no going back to Queens before leaving for business. The following day, he delivers tragic news to his wife and young daughters. There’s a funeral to attend.

The Complicated Relationships in Fresh Kills

Fresh Kills

4/5

Release Date June 14, 2024

Director Jennifer Esposito

Cast Jennifer Esposito , Odessa A’Zion , Annabella Sciorra , Domenick Lombardozzi , Nicole Ehinger , Emily Bader , Bettina Skye , David Iacono

Runtime 2h

Pros

• Jennifer Esposito is great in her feature directorial debut.
• The relationship between Emily Bader and Odessa A’Zion is excellent and drives the film forward.
• The production design in Fresh Kills is fantastic.

Cons

• Scenes of the Twin Towers may evoke some sadnesses but are necessary.

Seven years later, Rose (Emily Bader) watches as Connie (Odessa A’zion) pummels a terrified girl. She had the audacity to question if Connie made out with her boyfriend. Their cousin, Allie (Nicholas Cirillo), laughs at the beating. Mess with a Larusso, and you’ll get what’s coming. At home, Francine watches Sally Jessy Raphael’s talk show while preparing dinner with their aunt (Annabella Sciorra). Joe’s father is running late. Rose notices strange cars linger on the street in front of the house. They’re always being watched. Rose gets a ferocious response from Connie when she timidly asks, “Is Dad a good person?”

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Jennifer Esposito writes, directs, and co-stars in a gripping period drama about Staten Island sisters trapped in a mob family.

Francine, Rose, and Connie exist in a world where they can never ask any questions. Joe always has the best intentions for his family. Don’t believe what you hear or see on the news about him. The Larusso women cope with this unspoken rule in their own way. Francine keeps up a brave countenance. You’re heartbroken as she constantly retells a story about her chance to be a fashion model. Connie, who’s cut from the same cloth as her father, defends Joe and their family at all costs. It is us versus them in every scenario. Rose refuses to accept her station in life. She knows there’s another path but doesn’t have the courage or voice to speak up. Her mother and sister constantly remind her she’s no better than them. Rose is stuck whether she likes it or not.

Fresh Kills is seen from Rose’s point of view. Esposito keeps a sharp focus on Rose’s face as she transitions from a girl to a young woman. Rose clearly understands what’s happening around her but is afraid to betray her true feelings of utter desperation. Connie despises weakness. She protects Rose and loves her unconditionally but considers her to be meek and passive. Connie won’t let Rose stand on the sidelines. You must be willing to do anything for the family. Bader and A’zion deliver superb performances. Their relationship dynamic drives the narrative and is fascinating to behold.

A Fantastic Representation of ’80s and ’90s New York

Esposito (Spin City, Summer of Sam, Crash) infuses her characters with searing realism. There are no outlandish caricatures here. Francine and her daughters reel from blow after blow as the story progresses. Fresh Kills has no lack of surprises. The Larruso women have varying reactions to what transpires. Francine can’t shield her daughters from the obvious but won’t admit the truth because it’s too painful to confront, while Connie’s aggressive personality embraces conflict as a sign of strength. Rose is the proverbial feather blowing in the winds of destiny. She’s reluctant to get her hands dirty, but blood is thicker than water. You have to fight when war reaches your doorstep.

Related 10 Fascinating La Cosa Nostra Documentaries

Documentaries like The Making of the Mob extensively dig into the lives and crimes of mafia members both unknown and infamous.

Fresh Kills has a fantastic production design that reminds audiences of a bygone era. Big hair, heavy make-up, and tracksuits accompany a killer classic soundtrack of music that defined the ’80s and ’90s New York. Esposito brilliantly captures a moment in time when Madonna ruled the airwaves, and the Twin Towers still loomed majestically. Scenes of Rose and Connie looking across the bay at the iconic buildings will bring a heavy heart. Their hopes and dreams will also come crashing down in a tragic, horrifying way. Fresh Kills lingers long after the credits roll.

Fresh Kills is a production of Rebellious Act Project, Owen Media Group, and Faliro House Productions. It will be released theatrically on June 14 from Quiver Distribution. You can watch the trailer below.

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