Suncoast: Fighting to Live

Sometimes, the worst place to be is between the now and ‘not yet’.

In Suncoast, we meet Doris (Nico Parker), a teenager who’s helping her mother, Kristine (Laura Linney) care for her dying brother. As they place him in palliative care, Doris meets an eccentric activist named Paul (Woody Harrelson). Having dealt with the death of his own wife, Paul comes alongside Doris to help her deal with her complicated feelings of grief and guilt. However, Doris also wants to live a normal life as a teen, especially with the end of her high school career approaching quickly.

Directed by Laura Chinn, Suncoast is a beautifully honest look at the challenges of dealing with grief when your entire life has been shattered by it. Having premiered at Sundance, Chinn has created a story that feels both personal and universal. Having built the story based upon her own experiences growing up with her dying brother, Chinn embeds the script with lessons that she learned upon her own healing journey. As a a result, each scene feels poignant as Doris and Kristine scratch and claw their way through their emotions.

But, that’s what also makes this film feel appropriate for everyone. Suncoast is a film that is unafraid to lean into the messiness of grief and healing. From Kristine’s obsession with staying with her son to Doris’ denial, this is a story that connects with grief on such a visceral level that it feels universal. 

No, we are not these characters. But, as viewers, we are allowed to see ourselves within them.

Of course, much of the beauty of this film lies with some wonderful performances from its cast. As the overprotective Kristine, Linney is at the top of her game. In each scene, she is firing on all cylinders as she balances motherhood with grief. At the same time, Harrelson displays a humility that we rarely see in his work. As a man broken by the death of his wife, he offers a performance that feels raw and honest, making it one of his most compelling roles in years. Even so, the true star of the film is Parker. As Doris, she brings an earnestness to her character that feels graceful and genuine. Together, the three have incredible chemistry as they walk together through the shadows of grief. 

Having said this though, Suncoast is far from only doom and gloom. Instead, there’s a quirkiness and humour within the film that allows light to break through the darkness. Even in the most difficult of moments, the film carries a sense of optimism. In fact, this is very much a story about people fighting to live as opposed to waiting to die. For example, while Doris is willing to care for her brother, she also has her whole life ahead of her—and she knows it. 

Although she bears the weight of her grief, she also yearns to be a part of something other than her brother’s story. Caught between her mother’s guilt-riddled scolding and Paul’s hopeful advice, Doris wants to move into adulthood. Despite her love for her brother, she wants to believe that there’s something more. Even so, she remains frozen between the life she’s always known and the one she wants to discover. (Actually, Doris’ inability to grow up also mirrors Kristine’s inability to release her feelings of guilt as well.) But, when they allow themselves space for grieving and grace, suddenly the frozen shell around their hearts begins to melt.

And, it’s in these moments where hope begins to break through.

Suncoast is available on Disney+ now.