Mouse: Directing Duo's Ambitious Next Chapter

Filmmakers Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson are set to premiere their latest film, Mouse, on February 13 at the Berlinale. This project follows their critically successful film Ghostlight, which they described as an "audition" for their more ambitious endeavors.

Mouse, a sprawling coming-of-age drama, showcases the directing duo's expanded capabilities. The film stars Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo as Helen, an English concert pianist unexpectedly living in North Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2002 with her daughter Callie. Helen navigates an unhappy marriage while forming a deep bond with her daughter and Callie's best friend, Minnie.

O'Sullivan, who writes the scripts, has lived with the Mouse script longer than any previous work, incorporating her evolving perspective as a writer and director. The film's setting in Arkansas, O'Sullivan's childhood home, lends memoiristic undertones, with shooting locations chosen for their vivid personal significance.

To achieve naturalistic authenticity, the filmmakers employed spherical lenses and a two-camera setup, drawing inspiration from large-scale films like "The Thin Red Line." The narrative's surprise turn is also inspired by a pivotal experience from O'Sullivan's youth, explored now from a parent's viewpoint.

Mouse delves into thorny relationships and the complexities of self-identity, particularly between Helen and Minnie. The filmmaking process was described as "incredibly free," with Okonedo noting the blurring lines between action and cut to capture raw performances.

Mallen Kupferer, who plays Minnie, showcases significant range in portraying a character's internal journey of self-discovery. The directors' rise in independent film is marked by this progression, with Mouse premiering at a European festival after Ghostlight's Sundance debut.