We're Not Done Yet (2024)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

When Alex (Joseph Longo) returns home to spend time with his mother, Bettina (Barbara Sukowa), Alex finds that his mother has found solace in her newly-found freedom. As the two butt heads, We’re Not Done Yet showcases a turbulent story of love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness. 

We’re Not Done Yet is a tragic story of someone hoping to rekindle a relationship with their youth, attempting to step back in time and find a piece of themselves that has been missing for far too long. As characters attempt to find a piece of themselves that no longer exists, that is completely out of reach, they find that the lives they once led are forever behind them. We’re Not Done Yet paints Bettina in a way that causes her to appear unappealing, and viewers are forced to grapple with whether or not she’s a dynamic enough character that we come to appreciate her by the end of the film. Again and again viewers are shown pieces of Bettina that stack up against her, that cause viewers to question her humanity, her sanity. By the end of the film, however, Bettina is stripped down to her bare bones, exposed to viewers in a way that allows the audience to understand the purpose behind her outbursts, her struggles. 

Bettina is a dynamic character, whose innocence and pain hides behind her tough exterior. We’re Not Done Yet relies almost entirely on Sukowa’s ability to convey stoicism, while still allowing viewers access to a series of layers that exist behind her often troubled eyes. Sukowa is brilliant in her portrayal of this character. She's both the door separating viewers from the film and the window that allows them access.

Directors Sofia Camargo and Longo, along with Director of Photography Melanie Akoka, ensure Bettina is often framed by the vast, beautiful landscape. The message that often presents itself is just how small Bettina (and all of us) are in the grand scheme of things. The often extreme long shots used to tell this emotional story exemplify what this team of filmmakers hoped to express to the world. We’re Not Done Yet is an artistic venture into Bettina and Alex’s world, and the use of the camera effectively brings this film to life. 

As the film comes to a close, viewers are met with a pianic score that is both calculated and chaotic. With a tonal blend in the final moments of We’re Not Done Yet, viewers get one final glimpse into Alex and Bettina’s life–and it’s maybe the most telling moment of the film. 

Longo and Camargo have a firm grasp on filmmaking, specifically how to bring dynamic characters to life. We’re Not Done Yet is both a love song for those trying to rekindle a relationship with their youth and a cautionary tale of the potential horrors that can come with waiting too long to look for happiness. We’re Not Done Yet is a visual feast, and an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. 

Directed by Sofia Camargo & Joseph Longo. 

Written by Joseph Longo. 

Starring Barbara Sukowa, Joseph Longo, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Lauren Norvelle, & Doron JéPaul. 

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW