Those familiar with Benjamin Kasulke’s work as a cinematographer will be surprised by his directorial debut. It is nothing like those films he shot for Lynn Shelton and other noted indie directors (check out 2017’s Cold November). This film is fast, full of youth-sex energy and hot blasts of rock and rap. The film’s colors are bright, the cast is gorgeous, the story—cowritten by its star, Hannah Marks—adds a new twist to the old love-triangle trope. And there’s not one boring or bad moment from beginning to end. One thing I never expected is that Kasulke, a filmmaker I’ve known for nearly 15 years—and a Stranger Genius Award winner—had it in him to become a 21st-century John Hughes.
Banana Split screens this Saturday and Sunday, and on Thurs., May 23, at the 45th Seattle International Film Festival. Further details here. For a complete breakdown of the more than 400 films playing at SIFF, visit The Stranger‘s online SIFF guide.
