Paul Thomas Anderson rarely fails to put together an impressive ensemble, but One Battle After Another features one of the most exciting collections of actors he’s assembled yet. When compared to major stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor may have seemed like more of an unknown. Although Anderson often chooses to spotlight up-and-coming actors, Taylor’s talents were without question after her breakthrough performance in the family drama A Thousand and One. In addition to showing the type of maternal resilience and independent thought needed to play such a captivating character, the idiosyncratic personality that Taylor brought to her performance in A Thousand and One ensured that she would be a perfect fit for whatever vision Anderson had in store.
As is often the case with smaller independent films, particularly those starring Black leads, A Thousand and One wasn’t seen by a significant audience due to its limited theatrical rollout and lack of marketing. However, A Thousand and One received nothing but rave reviews since its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, and was named as one of the year’s best independent films by the National Board of Review. Considering the seismic cultural impact that One Battle After Another is about to have, fans of Taylor’s work in Anderson’s latest masterpiece owe it to themselves to see the film that established her as a star.
Teyana Taylor Plays a Complicated Maternal Figure in 'A Thousand and One'
Image via Focus Features
Image via Focus Features
Image via Focus Features
Image via Sundance
Image via Focus Features
A Thousand and One is a grounded drama set in New York and examines one woman’s path to becoming a nontraditional parent. Taylor plays the hairdresser Inez de la Paz, a recent inmate at Riker’s Island who helped adopt the young boy Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola) when it appeared that his biological mother had abandoned him on a street corner. Despite not having any official documentation or experience raising children, Inez took it upon herself to take care of Terry, ensuring that he received the education that he deserved. Inez understands that the social and economic tensions of New York will make it harder for Terry to succeed, as the racist infrastructures in place ensure that he will have to work twice as hard to earn any respect or credibility. However, Inez is so inspired by her son’s potential that she is willing to invest in his future, even when questions about her guardianship are raised later on in his life.
A Thousand and One is an impressive encapsulation of the entire experience of motherhood, as it takes place over many years, featuring new actors as playing Terry at different ages. Taylor examines the ways that motherhood shapes Inez’s life, and how her initial act of kindness turns into an all-consuming obligation to provide Terry with the insight and guidance that he needs to feel “normal.” While there are a fair amount of stresses that are inherent to raising a child, Inez’s situation is particularly strenuous because of the ambiguity of Terry’s origins, as there is only so long that she can hold the truth from him. Most frustrating is the assertion by outside forces that, because she never legally adopted him, Inez is not Terry’s “real mother.” Given how beautifully the film shows the sleepless nights, overworked hours, and consistent kindness that Inez worked towards, there should be no question that she is responsible for the promising young man that Terry has become.
'A Thousand and One' Explores Relevant Modern Issues
A Thousand and One is by no means an easy watch, as it examines the racism, classism, and intense political rhetoric that made life for a single Black mother particularly challenging during a tempestuous period in American history. However, A Thousand and One does celebrate the joys of rearing a child, as the film serves as a coming-of-age story for both Inez and Terry. Inez had been without purpose and didn’t want to settle down out of obligation to social pressures, but found that raising Terry was a challenge that she couldn’t pass up. As Terry grows into a compassionate young man who is not afraid to break the mold, Inez considers the inherent bravery it took her to will his adolescence into existence. Even when Inez makes mistakes that cause the initial friction with Terry, there’s never any doubt as to the positive influence she has had on his life.
A Thousand and One contains some pointed commentary on the gentrification, police brutality, and wealth disparity that occurred throughout the administrations of Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, but any points the film makes about class dynamics in the United States are specifically tied to Inez’s characterizations. Many political debates are entirely theoretical, but seeing the tireless work effort and capacity for kindness within Inez shows why some of these practices need to be amended. Taylor is also willing to bring a spunky, often humorous attitude to her performance, as she isn’t willing to accept anything but excellence from her son. Rarely does a family drama show so much care in the depiction of the fluctuations within a dynamic over time, but Taylor’s performance is so vivacious that Inez feels like a real, grounded character.
- Release Date
- March 31, 2023
Cast
-
Teyana Taylor -
Will Catlett -
Aaron Kingsley Adetola
-
Josiah Cross
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
- Director
- A.V. Rockwell
- Writers
- A.V. Rockwell
