Lff: Closing Night Film/ The Debut (15)

About this event

Dir Jesse Eisenberg/US 2026/106 mins Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey Quiet housewife Mona has become a supporting role in her own life; her husband barely acknowledges her presence and their children are on the cusp of fleeing the nest. So when, on an impulse, she auditions for a local production of an original musical, Mona suddenly finds herself in the spotlight when she is cast in a leading role, as Miss Danielle. However, she is unprepared for the theatrical hurricane that is Jerry, her enigmatic director and the ‘biggest name in New Jersey community theatre’. As she continues to be creatively pushed by him, Mona finds herself going to extreme lengths to unlock her character. The Debut once again finds the perfect balance between humour and drama that Eisenberg delivered with his previous films A Real Pain (LFF 2024) and When You Finish Saving the World. It’s both sparklingly witty and laugh-out-loud funny, while every scene works to build on the emotional undercurrents and heartbreaking revelations that make the characters so credible. This time, Eisenberg’s talents even stretch to writing the songs for the fictional stage musical. Moore is in her element, giving one of her finest performances, while Paul Giamatti’s Jerry continues his run from The Holdovers as the master of dramedy. Ultimately, The Debut is an elegant and intelligent coming-of-older-age story about how it’s never too late to find our true selves, and the redemptive powers of community and art. Take your seats... It’s showtime!