In film and television it’s very common to find a romance happening that probably shouldn’t be, with too wide an age gap that’s either just unappealing or actually illegal. That’s a central problem some have with Licorice Pizza. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists actually has a category in their awards titled “Most Egregious Age Difference Between Leading Man and Love Interest.” Palm Trees and Power Lines is the latest reminder that if something feels off, there’s probably good reason to raise alarm…
Seventeen-year-old Lea (Lily McInerny) exists very much on the periphery of her friend group, spending hours sitting with her best friend while they’re both on their phones and not engaging as energetically in the same hook-ups and relationships as her peers. But when she meets Tom (Jonathan Tucker), who is thirty-four, the two have an instant connection. She feels seen, especially considering how her mother (Gretchen Mol) only pays attention to her when the latest man in her life isn’t around. What initially seems like a perfectly harmless and genuine bond between Lea and Tom gradually reveals itself to be horrifically toxic and dangerous.
This film is full of red flags which begin when Tom asks Lea if he can kiss her, taking that first step from a questionable series of hangouts to an illegal relationship. Anyone watching will surely want to scream at the screen and warn Lea; Every move she is making, which includes lying to her best friend about who she is texting and slowly cutting her mother out of her life, is bound to leave her hurt. This film might best be understood as a cautionary tale about how those who seem nice enough are exactly the type of people likeliest to prey upon unsuspecting teenagers because they’re able to get invited in with an initial display of kindness and apparent sincerity.
In that vein, this relatively melancholy film might indeed be true to life in that there are no grand moments of catharsis and a happy ending is not in the cards. In her feature debut, writer-director Jamie Dack adapts her own short film, which premiered at Cannes in 2018. She has a keen understanding of character, writing both Lea and Tom richly with ample space for first-time actress McInerny and the dependable Tucker to enhance them with grounded performances. The script as a whole isn’t as strong, and it’s difficult to walk away from the experience of watching this film feeling that it has brought up anything new or presented a resonant story. B-
Palm Trees and Power Lines is showing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.