Cinequest Film Festival – What We Do Next is a film told in seven scenes that covers roughly 16 years. It follows the lives of three people connected by their past. It’s also a gripping thriller and sharp meditation on race, power, and injustice.

Writer/director Stephen Belber‘s feature follows Elsa Mercado (Michelle Veintimilla), New York City councilwoman Sandy James (Karen Pittman), and corporate lawyer Paul Fleming (Corey Stoll). These characters couldn’t be any more different from each other. Elsa, recently released from prison after killing her abusive father, has a major connection to Sandy and Paul. Years ago, when Sandy worked at a women’s shelter, they gave her $500, which she used to purchase a gun and kill her father. Because Sandy’s political fortunes keep growing, she wants to bury the story before a reporter from Slate breaks it. In turn, Elsa demands that Paul and Sandy hook her up with a job that pays at least $75,000, so her mother doesn’t have to eat “dog food.” They do this, but Elsa resurfaces a few months later, seeking another favor. She violated her parole after punching an aggressive man in a bar. He bit off part of his tongue and decides to press charges. Elsa wants Sandy to contact the DA and make the charges go away.

The performances by the three leads are stellar, especially Veintimilla and Pittman. Those two really knock it out of the park, conveying a heck of a lot of emotion that drenches this feature in tension and drama. As each scene unfolds, the power dynamics shift, and it’s fascinating to watch. Belber crafted a script that very much feels like a play, which makes sense given his background as a playwright whose work has been produced for Broadway. While the Roman numerals marking a shift to the next scene feel unnecessary, this is very much a film told in separate and distinct acts. It works well in terms of the narrative.

The film is also very careful to illustrate each character’s perspective. Each one thinks they’re doing what’s best and right. Sandy is a politician who truly wants to assist her community and help people, but she also doesn’t want to bend the law for Elsa. Paul, meanwhile, tries to use his law degree to do some good, while Elsa does her best to avoid prison. After she details what her father did to her, you come to understand why she pulled the trigger years ago. She saw no escape from the abuse and torment. It’s also difficult not to feel sympathy for her, especially in the final two scenes. She feels like the world operates on favors and that no one’s going to help her. When Sandy insists that she has to think about all of New York’s citizens, Elsa says, “I am a citizen.” All three characters, Elsa and Sandy especially, are nuanced and well-written. This is a film with several ethical layers and frequent shifts in power dynamics.

Belber’s latest feature is a pensive thriller with some stellar performances, especially by Pittman and Veintimilla. What We Do Next has a cascading moral dilemma with plenty at stake for its characters. In less than 90 minutes, the film examines injustice in America, complicated ethical scenarios, and small slivers of hope that change is still possible.

8 Out of 10