Cusp

A small community in rural Texas—a world of big cars, endless plains, guns, American flags, pit bulls, and rough manners. Teenage girls Brittney, Aaloni, and Autumn fill the long, hot days of summer vacation with boredom and chatter, and hang out at parties fueled by drink and drugs.

The girls, naive but at the same time worldly wise, are on the cusp of adulthood. Their talk is self-assured as they pretend to be older than they are, but they are also vulnerable. Trying to navigate the minefield of boys, sex, and relationships, they talk candidly (and often with painful pragmatism) about sensitive topics like abuse and self-harm.

During a road trip through the U.S. debuting filmmakers Parker Hill and Isabel Bethencourt bumped into the three friends at a gas station and succeeded in gaining their trust. With an eye for detail and a pleasing sense of rhythm, they follow the girls through their languid summer, until school starts again and obligations await.