The Scout (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

2025 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! 

Sofia (Mimi Davila) traverses the often tumultuous and unforgiving city of New York in order to scout locations for an upcoming television pilot. The Scout follows Sofia on her journey, studying the many characters in which she comes in contact–analyzing who they are, what they mean, and how they affect those around them. 

The Scout has no true plot. Other than knowing that Sofia is in desperate search of a specific type of location. Full disclosure, we never find out if she’s successful, only that she has located homes and fish stores that may be a good fit. In the grand scheme of things, however, that means nothing to viewers. What we ultimately care about is the journey itself and the interactions Sofia has with the people she meets along the way. That sounds sort of cliché, but it’s the truth of this film–and it’s honestly compelling. The Scout is gripping, and its ability to incorporate a series of unique and enigmatic characters allows it to remain so throughout its entirety. 

The misogynist, the dreamer, the long-lost friend, and more sneak into Sofia’s life throughout the course of The Scout, and while I’m not entirely sure that they affect Sofia in the long term, their interactions with her often reveal bits about her character–and they often extend themselves out into the real world, revealing truths about us and the people around us. I repeatedly found myself wrapped up in trivial conversations that revealed characters’ intentions, their greater role in the world around them, and more. This allows viewers to quickly develop bonds between the many characters that come and go at a moment's notice. 

I initially found the acting to be questionable, as many of the characters felt exaggerated and unnatural. However, as The Scout progresses through, it almost appears as though The Scout is meant to be satirical in nature. Again, as a character study, the satire is pointed at those characters and those that they mirror from the real world. The acting is clearly intentional, as a way to present viewers with whimsical, almost laughable versions of the real thing. 

What I found to be one of the most compelling aspects of The Scout, coincidentally, are the locations in which the film is shot. New York is vast, seemingly endless, and yet this team of creatives located a dozen or so places that perfectly capture the essence of the film and what it’s meant to express to viewers. Modest rooftops, the bright, vibrant lights of Broadway, or the immersive serene of a fish supply store all play a role in driving home the message behind the film (which is really more than one message). 

Like Sofia, The Scout is constantly moving from place to place, and yet there’s something incredibly interesting in the film’s cinematography that is quite different from this. Again, while the film moves from place to place at a relatively quick pace, individual scenes last far longer than one might expect from a modern-day film. Incredibly lengthy shots often exist without movement, creating an immersiveness that transcends the film, but almost develops a sense of discomfort. We often focus on a character far too long, intentionally so. It feels like we aren’t adhering to basic social norms, that we somehow often cross a line as the audience, and, again, that lends itself to a sense of immersion that exists prominently throughout the course of The Scout. 

Discomfort is essential to The Scout’s success. Those intensely long shots, the eccentric and often overbearing characters continue to add to the discomfort that exists within The Scout. Writer-Director Paula González-Nasser creates this unease intentionally, mirroring the real world and effectively conveying drama and suspense that transcends more than just the film itself, but the audience as well. Every bit of the film is meticulously placed, well developed, and ultimately effective. The Scout is a brilliant character study that brings to life accurately portrayed (albeit intentionally exaggerated) individuals that feel incredibly real. Well paced, and effectively dramatic, The Scout accomplishes all that it hopes to. 

Written & Directed by Paula González-Nasser. 

Starring Mimi Davila, Rutanya Alda, Matt Barats, Sarah Herman, Otmara Marrero, etc.

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING