2024 SXSW Final Dispatch: Comedies and Coming-Out Stories Rule the Moment

My five-day experience at the 2024 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival concluded with two days full of compelling and comedic revelations. For one, chemistry is everything when it comes to making a comedy film. It's not as easy as it looks on screen, especially given that some projects simply aren't as original as others.

But, when you come across some original and drop-dead funny pairings in a slapstick comedy of errors, you take every chance to witness it firsthand. Such is the case with "I Don't Understand You," the newest feature film from writers-directors and real-life partners David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano.

Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells make for a fantastic gay duo in "I Don't Understand You," set in rural Italy where an American couple takes an anniversary vacation as they await news from a potential mother-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) whether she wants them to adopt her baby or not. Dom and Cole had been the victim of an adoption fraud in the past and hoped their trip to Italy would rekindle some romance amongst the vegetarian pizza and fine wine. However, their Italian countryside adventure takes a dramatic turn for the worse when they find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere during a powerful storm.

What happens next will boggle the mind and leave you on the edge of your seat laughing in delight as the two men struggle with language barriers, out-of-this-world misunderstandings, and power outages that leave several bodies behind. Yes, there is murder, mayhem, and murky circumstances in what became one of the best comedies I watched at the festival. Kroll and Rannells embrace the absurdity of the film's premise, hinging on the idea that two gay men traveling abroad are constantly offended by what they perceive are cultural differences, slighting their queerness, but, in reality, are just simple errors in judgment.

If that wasn't enough, their baby is coming, and the new dads have no way of getting out of Italy for the birth. "I Don't Understand You" is a demented comedy full of outlandish one-liners, romance, second-guessing, and insecurity. At the film's screening, Craig and Crano divulged that elements of the story were steeped in reality as they, too, were victims of an adoption scam and chose to make a movie in honor of the son they ended up adopting. The result is a flick that's equally hilarious and heartwarming, shot as a thriller with ominous music that would lead the audience to believe Dom and Cole won't make it out of Italy alive.

Next was a music-based documentary that pays tribute to the life and work of songwriter and artist Allee Willis, aptly titled "The World According to Allee Willis." Willis, the mastermind behind some of the most iconic songs by bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and Pet Shop Boys, has left an indelible mark on pop culture. Her success is not just measured by the Grammys she won or the Tony and Emmy nominations she received but by the enduring relevance of her work. She penned the theme song to the beloved television series "Friends," a testament to her talent and the longevity of her creations.

But beneath the surface of Willis' achievements lay a profound emotional journey. Her place in the music industry was intertwined with her sexual identity, a complex aspect of her life that she often kept hidden. Yet, she bravely documented her struggles, using filmmaking as a new form of self-expression. This documentary, directed by Alexis Spraic and produced by Mark Cuban and Willis' romantic partner, Prudence Fenton, weaves archival footage and Willis' filmmaking style to bring her story to life.

When Fenton entered Willis' life, it cemented a transformative journey for the two. The self-proclaimed workaholic found a new source of inspiration and love in Fenton. This documentary peeks into their relationship, the art and music they created together from the early 1990s to 2019 when Willis sadly passed away, and the enduring legacy of their collaboration. It's a testament to the power of love and the potential for personal growth and change, even for someone as accomplished as Willis.