Tessa Thompson Answers Calls in Buscemi’s Film ‘The Listener’ Trailer

Tessa Thompson Answers Calls in Buscemi’s Film ‘The Listener’ Trailer

by Alex Billington
March 15, 2024
Source: YouTube

“It isn’t about me… I’m just hearing their stories, they’re the ones living them.” Vertical has revealed their trailer for an indie film titled The Listener, a solo drama starring Tessa Thompson as the only person actually in the film. The latest work directed by Steve Buscemi, who also made the underrated Interview back in 2007. After first premiering at festivals in 2022 and playing throughout 2023 on the festival circuit, The Listener is finally set for a proper debut at the end of March this year. Beth is a crisis helpline volunteer that gets on the phone every night, fielding calls from people feeling lonely, broken, and hopeless. During tonight’s shift, the stakes rise: is this the night she will save a hurting soul – or lose one? Tessa Thompson stars as Beth; other voices heard on the phone come from actors Rebecca Hall, Derek Cecil, Margaret Cho, Blu del Barrio, Jamie Hector, and Logan Marshall-Green. It’s similar to The Guilty, but with an entirely different premise with Beth and what she goes through on this end of the phone. Worth a listen.

Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Steve Buscemi’s The Listener, direct from Vertical’s YouTube:

Tessa Thompson plays Beth, a helpline volunteer who’s part of a small army that gets on the phone every night across America, fielding calls from all kinds of people feeling lonely, broken, hopeless. Over the last year, the tide has become a tsunami. As Beth goes through her shift, the stakes rise: is this the night she will lose someone? Save someone? Eventually, Beth’s own story comes to light, revealing why she does it. All along we remain with her: listening, comforting, connecting – patching the world back together, one stitch at a time. The Listener is directed by acclaimed American actor / filmmaker Steve Buscemi, director of the indie films Trees Lounge, Animal Factory, Lonesome Jim, and Interview previously, plus some TV directing work including on “Portlandia” and “Miracle Workers” most recently. The screenplay is written by Alessandro Camon. It’s produced by Wren Arthur, Steve Buscemi, Lauren Hantz, Oren Moverman, & Tessa Thompson. This initially premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival sidebar Giornate degli Autori. Vertical will debut Buscemi’s The Listener in select US theaters + on VOD starting March 29th, 2024 this spring.

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