Carousel - A Sundance Review
'Carousel' is a heartfelt story.
This is where we talk about it.
Carousel premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026. Noah reunites with his old high school ex, Rebecca, sparking a new flame. As they see if second chances exist, Noah deals with his anxious daughter and financial problems at his medical business.
I look forward to Sundance every January. It sparks my love for movies and discovering new stories. Carousel is a film about family, mental health, and second chances. The movie follows a unique timeline, surfacing an important moral about looking out for yourself, but most of the context takes place off-camera.
Chris Pine, Jenny Slate, and Abby Ryder Fortson star in Carousel. All three of these actors have had standout careers in film. This film tests their dramatic chops. More credits include Sam Waterston, Katey Sagal, Helene Yorke, Jessica Harper, and Jeffrey DeMunn.
This is a different role for Pine. Normally, he plays the charming crush; however, this film challenges Pine in new ways. Noah is a single father who has put his needs on hold for others. Pine is excellent. He portrays vulnerability, a side in men that is not seen enough in the media. When he first read the script, he said he connected with the loneliness.
Carousel was first on my Sundance watch list when I saw that the amazing Jenny Slate would be in it. I have become a big fan of Slate’s work. She plays the same type of character: a woman trying to straighten out her life. Compared to most films, Slate is more grounded in her comical personality. Slate interpreted Carousel as a ghost story with bad communication.
I was halfway in when I realized that Abby Ryder Fortson was playing Noah’s daughter, Maya. Fortson is coming into her own as an actress. I would have liked more focus on Maya, especially regarding her mental health issues.
Carousel was directed and written by Rachel Lambert. This feature is based on a short film that Lambert directed in 2023. It’s an intricate story about love, grief, and loneliness. To make it more of a personal story, Lambert directed the film in her own home.
In Andres Rignell’s cinematography, I noticed the camera focuses on people’s faces, but they’re partially hidden. He made images feel purposeful, like flowers and nature. I could feel the emotion.
As she said at Sundance, Lambert wanted to tell the story in an elliptical way. I am all for stories that take a different approach from normal storytelling. Lambert succeeds in areas but also falls flat.
One line relates to storytelling, and how certain parts of the story are portrayed-or deliberately left out - based on what audiences are expected to see. We only witness the aftermath of Maya’s fight. Lambert also doesn’t show a family dinner scene. One scene that I was confused by was Noah’s stay at the airport.
Mental health films are important. It has been taken more seriously over the years. More films have portrayed mental health and how viewers can get help. We need to have vulnerable conversations.
The best scene is Noah and Rebecca’s argument. The scene lasts twenty minutes. The pair touch on topics about relationships, the appropriate time to step in, and avoiding bottling up feelings. One line that has stayed with me is, “I’ve closed a lot of doors, and I’ve acted like they’re locked.” That is so deep.
Carousel is a heartfelt story. It’s a story we need, especially now. Mental health matters. Once this film is in theaters, I highly recommend you catch a showing.
About the Creator
Marielle Sabbag
Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.
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