#character-study

#character-study

It wasn't yet another national media story telling Portland about itself, but rather a book review-of a novel, no less. Portlander Willy Vlautin's The Night Always Comes rendered the city's cost-of-living crisis through one woman's torment. Somehow, the book knit a lifelike portrait of systemic injustice into a quick, violent crime drama that careens through a single, momentous night-escorts, guns, cocaine, and a stolen Mercedes-without selling out its characters or its city.

The focus is clear: this is about people as much as it is about crime.

James Drayton, born to north London academics, is a socially awkward high achiever who privately measures himself against Christopher Columbus and Napoleon.

Agnes, portrayed by Eva Victor, initially seems to have it all: a picturesque lifestyle, a prestigious job, and charming friendships, yet an undercurrent of unease constantly haunts her reality.

Hawkins' performance as Laura is a captivating blend of fragility, charm, and psychotic desperation, making her a complex and empathetic character in a thriller setting.

Adolescence challenges us to be OK with small talk and boredom, even if our impulse is to disappear into our screens.