Stress Positions (film)

Stress Positions is a 2024 American comedy drama film directed by Theda Hammel (in her feature directorial debut) with a screenplay by Hammel from a story by Faheem Ali and Hammel. It stars John Early, Hammel, Qaher Harhash, Amy Zimmer, Faheem Ali, Rebecca F. Wright, Davidson Obennebo and John Roberts.

The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024. The film premiered in theaters on April 19, 2024.

Premise
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brooklyn, a Moroccan American young man named Bahlul (Qaher Harhash) recovers from a broken leg while quarantining with his uncle Terry (John Early).

Release
Stress Positions premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. It was released on April 19, 2024.

Critical reception
Much of the initial critical reaction to Stress Positions centered on the film's satirical approach to issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Writing for The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney deemed Stress Positions "busy but thin". Ryan Lattanzio of Indiewire noted the film's heavy-handed approach to social issues but praised the "wry humor" and the chemistry between Hammel and Early.