Character-driven and brimming with charisma and depth, Am I Ok? is a lovely story about self-discovery in one’s 30s. Co-directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro from a script by Lauren Pomerantz, Am I Ok? is beautifully told as it explores the close friendship of two women, sexuality, and identity during an age where many expect to have figured these things out in life. Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno ground this endearing and overall thoughtful exploration of characters whose experiences are portrayed so truthfully.
Lucy (Johnson) and Jane (Mizuno) have been best friends for a long time. Jane has a great career and a loyal, loving boyfriend, Danny (Jermaine Fowler); Lucy is a receptionist at a spa, doesn’t seem very interested in dating, and loves to paint. When Jane gets a promotion and is offered a chance to run her own division in London, Jane wants to make sure Lucy is okay and tries to pull her out of her comfort zone. When Lucy admits she might like women, Jane is supportive, but wonders whether she really knew her friend as well as she thought. As Lucy explores a potential romance with Brittany (Kiersey Clemons), a masseuse at her job, Jane must also come to terms with the parts of herself she hasn't fully addressed.
Am I Ok? is emotionally arresting and open as it tackles the dynamics of friendship between Lucy and Jane, as well as the realizations they make about themselves as they slowly peel back the layers of who they are. As close as Jane and Lucy are, they hit a few bumps in the road and, in spending some time away from each other, are able to independently discover themselves in a way that their previously codependent relationship doesn’t allow. Despite the familiar route the film takes, Am I Ok? is lovely and surprisingly thoughtful in its handling of both characters. The story unfolds authentically and none of the conflict ever feels contrived. What's more, the filmmakers don't shy away from tough conversations while maintaining a lighthearted tone overall.
Through Johnson and Mizuno’s chemistry, viewers buy their friendship. And in their performances, layered as they are, lies something unequivocally exquisite and tender. Johnson imbues Lucy with a sense of discomfort; her head is typically pointed downward and away from others when talking, her shoulders slumped, her smile rarely meeting her eyes. As her story unfolds, so does her body language as she slowly and surely comes into her own. Jane is a lot more extroverted and her ability to talk through any scenario shadows the hurt that is hiding underneath. In Mizuno’s capable hands, Jane’s issues begin to reveal themselves, unmasking that which emotionally affects her. Her insecurities aren’t as obvious as Jane’s, but her control issues and need to find resolutions for every perceived problem showcase what she’s ultimately never fully dealt with from her past. And Mizuno excellently conveys these aspects of her character so well that, by the end, viewers might laugh and shed a tear or two at the same time.
The supporting characters — from Clemons’ flirty Brittany to Fowler’s pensive Danny — round out an exceptional cast that complement and advance Jane and Lucy’s journeys. There’s something wholeheartedly more beautiful and deep about exploring one's identity in one’s 30s. Everyone goes at their own pace, but it’s hard to remember that in a society that perceives life’s milestones in a linear fashion and assumes most people are more or less on the same page. It’s why Lucy’s reflections on her life and sexuality at 32 is so refreshing and raw. She’s constantly questioning herself, wondering aloud if there’s something wrong with her, and chastising herself for not realizing she was into women much earlier. It’s a part of her she blocked off and Am I Ok? deals with everything that entails head on.
As an adult still trying to figure out life and oneself, Lucy feels realistic and relevant to anyone who’s ever felt like a late bloomer. And the handling of her coming out story as she gently gets to know herself in a new way is thoroughly engaging, touching, honest, and deeply felt. Allynne and Notaro take their time developing the characters and their myriad of obstacles. They, thanks to Pomerantz’s writing as well, are multidimensional, and their feelings all the more so. Am I Ok? is ultimately heartfelt and genuine, littered with humor and emotional complexity in ways many films about identity and sexuality can only dream of being. Audiences will relate and root for the characters as they work through their hurdles and help themselves (and each other) grow and evolve. But, as the film is quick to remind us, changes and discovery from within must always come at one’s own time and pace.
Am I Ok? premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. The film is 86 minutes long and is not yet rated.
