If you live in NYC, I cannot encourage you enough to go check out this film before it leaves!

Mariette Monpierre's debut feature film Elza made its U.S. theatrical debut in NYC, late last month, as one of the first 2 films to open the brand new cinemas at MIST Harlem.

And it's on its way out, so see it before it's gone, New Yorkers!

Based on the real-life experiences of the filmmaker and the growing issue of African American and Caribbean children who are estranged from their fathers, writer/director Mariette Monpierre’s feature film debut is a tale of hope, family and acceptance. 

Elza (Stana Roumillac), a beautiful young woman who lives in Paris with her mother (Mariette Monpierre), has reason to celebrate, as she’s just become the first in the family to earn a college degree. But on the eve of her great achievement, Elza realizes that she has never come to terms with her sense of identity, prompting her to return to her hometown in Guadeloupe to make contact with her long-lost father (Vincent Byrd Le Sage). Bringing passion and perseverance to her shocking discoveries on the sun-kissed Caribbean island, Elza discovers hard truths beneath the beauty and lushness of Guadeloupe’s gorgeous landscapes.

Elza makes its U.S. premiere following acclaimed screenings at film festivals around the world, including the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, where it received Special Jury Recognition for Best First Feature, British Academy of Film & Television Arts/LA Festival Choice Award and the Programmer’s Award for Narrative Feature. It was also nominated for Best Picture of the Diaspora at the African Movie Academy Awards in Lagos, and won Best Narrative Feature at the Roxbury International Film Festival.

The film has been held over for 2 more nights: tonight at 7pm, and Thursday, 12/13, also at 7pm. So head over to MIST Harlem cinemas this evening, for the 7PM screening, or, tomorrow, Thursday evening at the same time, which I believe will be its last showing in NYC.

Sergio interview Ms. Monpierre HERE; Vanessa interviewed the film's star Stana Roumillac HERE; and finally Vanessa also reviewed the film HERE.

Trailer below: