By Amanda Moses
There is something to be said about those who volunteer their time and energy to help others, especially through mental health hotlines. These individuals attempt to aid people in bearing the heavy crosses they are carrying in life through the simple act of listening.
Director Steve Buscemi’s thriller/drama The Listener showcases an in-depth look at one night with Beth, a mental health volunteer played by Tessa Thompson as she lends her ear to those in distress. Audience members are taken through Beth’s process of trying to be empathetic toward callers, and in turn are given a spotlight on the state of mental health in America.
The Listener had its North American premiere at the Tribeca Festival’s venue, the OKX Theater at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, on June 11. Buscemi along with writer Alessandro Camon, cast members Blu Del Barrio, Ricky Valez and Bobby Sotto attended the red-carpet event. Celebrity guests, like Richard Gere, also lent their support and gushed over the film.
“It was a beautiful script, so well written. It’s all about mental health and people who are in distress and the person, Tessa Thompson, who is there to listen and help them,” Buscemi told reporters on the red carpet.
“Tessa Thompson plays a home healthcare worker in what’s called a warm line, it’s not a crisis line, but you can call if you are going through something. She works at night the character because that’s when most people feel at their lowest, they feel lonely, or they feel desperate and there is somebody out there who can listen and maybe give them some encouragement,” Buscemi said.
The protagonist, Beth tries to deescalate stressful situations where callers are threatening to end their own lives. Some of the celebrity voices viewers will hear include Rebecca Hall, Jamie Hector, and Alia Shawkat. Although you really only see Thompson in her home at night dealing with these calls, Buscemi said he painstakingly crafted how he wanted to showcase the fear and gravity of the situations Thompson was dealing with.
“Although it may seem easy because it’s one actor and it’s in pretty much one location, it would wake me up at night and I’m going: ‘How am I going to do this because I wanted this to be cinematic.’ We didn’t want her tethered to her phone or desk, but because of the pandemic some helpline workers were able to [do their work from home] so her home could be a character in it and the added ability to move around,” Buscemi said.
Photos by Amanda Moses
