From Omeleto.
A teenager wants a tattoo.
BABY SKIN is used with permission from Jordan Anstatt. Learn more at https://jordananstatt.com.
Cory is a teenage boy who wants to get a tattoo from legendary artist D-Tang, but Cory’s strict mom Patricia won’t let him get one until he’s eighteen. After being grounded for rebellious behavior, Cory sneaks out of the house and tries to get D-Tang to bend the rules for him, but D-Tang won’t budge.
But Patricia discovers that Cory went behind her back, and when she confronts him, Cory lashes out at Patricia. His harsh words provoke Patricia to express her pain and sadness as a single parent — but it also opens up the space for a much-needed discussion about the past sorrow that connects them both.
Directed and written by Jordan Anstatt, this spiky yet warmly compelling short dramedy is both a classic clash of generations and a snapshot of a mother-son relationship rockily navigating the uncertain and sorrowful together. It has a surface patina of rebellion and edginess, thanks to the interests and predilections of its adolescent protagonist, who chafes at being too young for the tattoo art he wants and the protective single mother who enforces that age restriction. But underneath the dark ink and punk-rock spirit, it’s keenly attuned to the emotional connections that both bind and bond families together.
The storytelling has a lively spirit, with its brisk, almost impatient tempo, rough-hewn naturalism and unruly humor immersing us in Cory’s temperament and personality. With the hastiness and urgency of youth, he badly wants a tattoo from renowned artist D-Tang, who has a rare opening at a good price in his schedule. But Cory is thwarted by both the skeptical artist and his protective mother. His rejection by D-Tang is comical, but the one with Patricia is more strenuously serious. They spar in a way archetypal to parents and teens, fueling the conflict that pulls us along and creating a formidable obstacle for Cory to overcome.
Actor Caden Brauch’s performance as Cory bursts at the seams with reckless vitality, with a great deal of abundant but unfocused energy in need of an outlet. At first, we might believe that his desire for a tattoo comes out of an adolescent need for self-expression and freedom. But as the conflict with his mother builds, we see more layers of their relationship and family. As Patricia, actor Maura Campbell is both Cory’s foil and a fully drawn character in her own right, conveying the steady center and subtle overwhelm of a single mother who has reached the point of exasperation with her son.
As she grapples with Cory’s willfulness and defiance, the cracks in her facade open more, and they finally talk about the real reason Cory wants a tattoo so badly, something that is difficult for them to talk openly about. And in that dialogue, they come to a matter-of-fact but tender understanding and sharing over the pain of losing his father. What begins as a classic tale of teenage rebellion and misadventure becomes a warmly engaging exploration of familial grief, connection and ultimately the persistence of love. Funny, entertaining and oddly wise beneath its surface, BABY SKIN captures the transformative power of truly listening and understanding one another, and what can happen when we feel fully seen and heard by our loved ones.
