In a San Francisco losing its soul to rapid gentrification, nonbinary newbie Cass (Asia Kate Dillon, in a breakout performance) barely scrapes by nannying for wealthy kids, waiting tables, and dealing just enough party drugs to cover rent on a small apartment. A one-night stand with coworker Kalli (Louisa Krause) sparks something real, but when Kalli disappears — leaving her 11-year-old daughter, Ari (Ridley Asha Bateman), in Cass’ hands — the seams start to come undone.
Capturing San Francisco from a unique angle, this slowburn, moving feature debut from Elena Oxman (Lit, Frameline38) frames its character study of Cass and Ari through Raymond Carver’s poem “Late Fragment” — a quiet gut-punch about wanting to be loved that feels very apt here. Playing Outerlands, a lo-fi video game about a stranded astronaut searching for a lost ship, Cass and Ari form a bond that nudges them toward healing old scars through new ties and responsibilities, while wrestling with their place in a city pushing its longtime residents out. With supporting roles from Lea DeLaria and Daniel K. Isaac (reteaming with Billions co-star Dillon here), Outerlands digs into lingering childhood trauma, substance abuse, and the complexity of caring for someone else when you’re still figuring out how to care for yourself.