At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, attendees will be introduced to a gripping narrative that explores the impact of trauma on a young mind through the film “Josephine.” The festival unveiled first looks at various official selections for 2026, with “Josephine” prominently featured. The film follows an eight-year-old girl, portrayed by Mason Reeves, who grapples with the emotional fallout after witnessing a horrifying event in Golden Gate Park.
The story begins when Josephine inadvertently observes a brutal assault happening in the park, a moment that shatters her innocence. The haunting experience leaves her plagued by fear and paranoia, prompting a shift in behavior as she desperately seeks control over her safety. Despite her turmoil, her parents, played by Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, struggle to understand her distress and provide the support she needs, highlighting the complexities of parental concern and child vulnerability.
Directed by Beth de Araújo, “Josephine” serves as a highly anticipated follow-up to her 2022 debut film, “Soft & Quiet,” which received critical acclaim and an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The success of her earlier project has enabled her to attract a star-studded cast, with Tatum and Chan bringing their established talents to the screen. The supporting cast includes Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, and Eleanore Pienta, all contributing their performances to this deeply emotional narrative.
De Araújo’s connection to the story is deeply personal, stemming from an incident in her own childhood. In an interview, she recounted how, similar to Josephine, she experienced a traumatic moment at a young age while playing in a park with her father. Hearing screams for help and witnessing her father confront an assailant left a lasting impact on her, shaping the emotional landscape she explores in “Josephine.” The film aims to shed light on feelings of vulnerability and fear that are seldom addressed in mainstream cinema.
The film is set to make its world premiere at Sundance, taking place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22 to February 1. As the layers of the narrative unfold, “Josephine” promises to engage audiences with its haunting themes and emotional depth, providing a unique perspective on childhood trauma and the challenges of navigating a world filled with uncertainty.
