See You When I See You Review: Duplass Returns to Sundance with Grief Drama
Jay Duplass makes his long-awaited return to the Sundance Film Festival after sixteen years with See You When I See You, a poignant comedy-drama that navigates the turbulent waters of family grief. The film features an ensemble cast including David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Lucy Boynton, and Cooper Raiff, who delivers a performance as a young man grappling with profound loss.
A Personal Journey Through Trauma
Adapted from comedian Adam Cayton-Holland's memoir Tragedy Plus Time, the 102-minute film represents a deeply personal project for Duplass. Having first attended Sundance in 2003 with his brother Mark and their micro-budget film, Duplass understands the festival's transformative power for independent artists. See You When I See You marks his feature film return to the event that launched his career, following years focused on television projects like Togetherness and Search Party.
The narrative centres on Adam, portrayed by Cooper Raiff, who discovers his younger sister Leah (Kaitlyn Dever) after her suicide. This devastating event sends shockwaves through the Whistler family, with each member adopting distinct coping mechanisms:
- Mother Paige (Hope Davis) immerses herself in conservation work
- Father Robert (David Duchovny) compulsively shares the tragedy with everyone he meets
- Older sister Emily (Lucy Boynton) fixates on funeral logistics to maintain control
Balancing Comedy and Tragedy
The film attempts a delicate tonal balance between profound grief and lighthearted comedy, a challenging tightrope walk that occasionally stumbles but remains mostly forgivable given the sensitive subject matter. The family's banter in the immediate aftermath of Leah's death adopts a borderline jaunty rhythm, with characters cracking jokes while debating funeral arrangements. Jordan Seigel's often sprightly, upbeat musical score contributes to this tonal confusion, creating an intentional dissonance that reflects the family's disorientation.
Where the film truly shines is in its depiction of Adam's therapeutic journey. He undergoes eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for PTSD under the guidance of Dr. Anya (Poorna Jagannathan). Duplass approaches these clinical scenes with complete sincerity, showing Adam repeatedly returning to the traumatic memory of discovering Leah's body. The film's title, initially puzzling, gradually reveals its significance as Adam learns to process his grief through this therapeutic repetition.
Performances That Resonate
Cooper Raiff, whose film Cha Cha Real Smooth was a Sundance success in 2022, brings his signature talkative, self-deprecating style to Adam's character. While some might find his performance opaque during the film's more dramatic moments, he excels in the familiar territory of conversational comedy. His portrayal of a young man disconnected from the world following unimaginable loss feels authentic and moving.
Kaitlyn Dever makes the most of limited screen time as Leah, appearing primarily in flashbacks and imagined confrontations. She manages to convey both vibrant energy and haunting unreachability, creating a compelling presence that lingers throughout the film. Hope Davis delivers a particularly nuanced performance, communicating volumes through subtle glances and restrained emotion.
A Festival Film Seeking Connection
See You When I See You premieres at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which marks the event's final edition in Park City and its first without founder Robert Redford. The festival's "end of an era" nostalgia resonates with Duplass's own journey, making this homecoming particularly meaningful.
While the film occasionally struggles with its ambitious balancing act between comedy and drama, its sincere exploration of grief and therapeutic healing offers moments of genuine poignancy. For those who have experienced similar losses, See You When I See You may provide validation and comfort. For others, it offers a window into the complex, non-linear process of mourning that defies easy resolution.
The film is currently seeking distribution following its Sundance premiere, representing another chapter in Duplass's ongoing relationship with the festival that helped launch his career over two decades ago.
