Wexford Plaza

The modern world often seems to be set at the intersection of isolation and connection, and Wexford Plaza is the strip mall at that junction. Bringing characters front and center that are normally relegated to background players is the secret to this thoughtful coming of age tale, where meaningless jobs, loneliness and suburban ennui are the common denominators. Writer/director Joyce Wong lets us see the full hearts and messy realities of these underdogs, beautifully setting up a world as inescapable and awkward as the polyester uniforms their minimum wage jobs require them to wear. (Slamdance Film Festival)