In the well-crafted indie drama Princess of the Row, Alicia is a 12-year-old living with her homeless dad on LA’s skid row. The dad is a brain-injured vet who veers between catatonic and paranoid episodes, unable to care for himself or his daughter. Princess of the Row follows Alicia’s harrowing journey through homelessness and the child welfare system.
Alicia is played by Tayler Buck, a charismatic and uncommonly gifted actress. The character of Alicia, both streetwise and innocent, suspicious of those offering help, is a complex one with a rich inner life. This is child as caregiver to the parent, sacrificing her own aspirations – and even safety. Tayler Buck makes us care about Alicia so much that one scene in which she is imperiled is very hard to watch. Buck’s performance is the most compelling reason to see Princess of the Row.
Edi Gathegi is also captivating as the dad, a volatile cauldron of what appears to be paranoid schizophrenia. Gathegi plays a guy with some remnants of lucidity buried very deeply inside and barely perceptible.
Princess of the Row is the first narrative feature for director Van Maximilian Carson, and it’s a promising debut. Martin Sheen and Ana Ortiz are excellent in supporting parts.
Cinequest hosts the world premiere of Princess of the Row.