I Will Follow (2011)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(260 ratings)

An Official Selection of AFI Fest, Chicago International Film Festival, RiverRun Film Festival and Winner of the Narrative Audience Award at Urbanworld Film Festival, I WILL FOLLOW is a quiet drama that explores the surprising thirst for life we experience after the death of someone we love. Maye is… More An Official Selection of AFI Fest, Chicago International Film Festival, RiverRun Film Festival and Winner of the Narrative Audience Award at Urbanworld Film Festival, I WILL FOLLOW is a quiet drama that explores the surprising thirst for life we experience after the death of someone we love. Maye is a success. Hot career. Hot boyfriend. But when her world is turned upside down by family tragedy, she must struggle to maintain her balance. I WILL FOLLOW chronicles a day in the life of a woman at a crossroads, and the twelve visitors who help her move into a brave, new world. -- (C) Official Site

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: Ava DuVernay
Written By: Ava DuVernay
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 11, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Aug 22, 2011
Studio: Independent Pictures

Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
There's smooth-jazz polish to the emotions, even the unpleasant ones, in "I Will Follow."
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
I Will Follow, Ava DuVernay's triumphant feature debut, is a life-affirming portrait of a woman, Maye (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), juggling all kinds of loss.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
This touching if insular drama about a woman grieving over the recent death of her aunt is well acted and incisively observed, although it's ultimately too low-key to have much dramatic impact.
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
Shows a certain amount of promise but often falls prey to easy emotional beats and an overall sentimentality when it should push for moments less obvious, more rare, true and insightful.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
In one way or another, every emotion in this wonderful independent film is one I've experienced myself. Grief, of course. But also anger, loneliness, confusion and a sense of lost direction.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
Its elegantly simple structure filled in with startling, understated force, I Will Follow is a modestly framed portrait of grief in its first season.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
As a director, DuVernay handles her actors with care, though visually the picture sometimes betrays its shoestring budget.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Congrats to Salli Richardson-Whitfield for delivering a career performance, here, and to Ava DuVernay for shooting such a thought-provoking meditation on mortality in just a couple of weeks and on a micro budget.
Clay Cane, BET.com
If you want a movie with a flawless script, passionate actors, tears and laughs that result in inspiration, then this is a must-see. 'I Will Follow' is a full dose of humanity and makes me proud to be associated with the film industry.