Grass

Grass is an intimate and heartfelt feature written, produced, and directed by Tanuj Chopra. This indie slice-of-life film stars Emily C. Chang and Pia Shah and premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2017.

Grass follows the story of two friends, Cam (Emily C. Chang) and Jinky (Pia Shah). The pair, both in their late 20s, are two Asian-American women who represent the dichotomy of someone stuck in their ways versus someone looking for a change. The two women find themselves caught in the realities of their personal lives, caught up in the effects of past mistakes, current addictions, and the confusion of what the future holds.

Cam is a struggling actress, with her career aspirations having been somewhat sidelined by her addiction to pot. She finds solace and comfort in her routine, the familiarity of her controlled intake of weed, and possesses a certain level of apathy towards the bigger picture. Her laid-back attitude and dependency on grass sometimes come across as an escape, a shield protecting her from professional failure and relationship issues.

Jinky, on the other hand, desires more from life and is passionate about personal growth. She is determined to break free from her stagnancy and faces the tribulations of her romantic life with a strong resolve to make changes. Throughout the movie, Jinky's struggles reflect her strive against her history of bad decisions in men and her desire to have a fulfilling relationship while maintaining a sense of self-worth.

The whole film unfolds within the confines of Cam’s apartment, situated over a single afternoon. This apartment becomes an area of sanctuary to explore daily routines, trusted friendships, personal dreams, and the pains of reality. With Cam's apartment framed as a haven, it hosts the rollercoaster journey of these two women, with highs of laughter, lows of teary confrontations, and everything in-between.

Grass is not only about fun and recreational drug use, but it is also about friendship, growth, choices, and the tangled web of complexities that surround individuals in the modern world. The movie tries to show how everyone may not have it all figured out, yet it is perfectly fine. It also, very subtly, underscores the theme of racial identity and narrative representation, weaving a tale that others can resonate with.

The on-screen chemistry between Emily C. Chang and Pia Shah solidifies their performances. They impressively share a palpable rapport that defines their friendship, echoing the reality of many similar relationships—sometimes nurturing, loving, and comforting, other times bitter, confrontational, and challenging. Their performances bring raw, unfiltered, and yet relatable characters to life, making the movie a breeze to walk through.

What sets Grass apart from many other indie movies is its portrayal of everyday life. It is unpretentious, organic, and realistically captures what it's like to navigate life within the confines of societal expectations while battling personal insecurities. Using minimal locations and character-focused storytelling, Grass proves that storytelling does not have to be grandeur to be gripping.

Tanuj Chopra has worked wonders with an unfussy storyline and has managed to deliver a thought-provoking film about life, friendship, and self-growth through seemingly simple, ordinary events. The film's pacing is sluggish at times, adding believability to the plot and allowing the audience to marinate in the rich layers of the characters' lives.

The backdrop of recreational drug use plays a critical role in the film, being a common thread that binds the characters together, rather than being a controversial or central plot element. It becomes a metaphor for various aspects of life, such as escape, dependency, and comfort, seen in different lights by the two primary characters.

Chopra, through Grass, creates a discourse around various facets of modern life and succeeds in making a film that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Filled with sincere performances, humorous and relatable dialogues, Grass takes us on a journey that is a blend of humor, drama, and life teachings. It may be a story of two friends, but it is relatable on many levels to anyone who may have grappled with their inner selves.