City of Love (film)

City of Love is a 2023 American comedy crime thriller film directed by Èric Boadella and written by Boadella and Sara Pattarini. The film stars Robert DeCesare, Kathryn Schott, Taylor Nichols and Mario Tardón.

City of Love
Poster
Directed by	Èric Boadella
Written by	Èric Boadella Sara Pattarini
Story by	Robert DeCesare
Produced by	Byron Austen Ashley Èric Boadella Sara Pattarini
Starring	Robert DeCesare Kathryn Schott Taylor Nichols Mario Tardón Myron Donley Daniel Reed Heidi Méndez Samuel Garnett Paul Dinh-McCrillis
Cinematography	Romas Usakovas
Edited by	Nadine Mundo
Music by	Okan Isik
Production company	Rotten Apple Entertainment
Distributed by	Freestyle Digital Media
Release dates	January 28, 2023 (2023-01-28) (New Jersey International Film Festival) December 19, 2023 (2023-12-19) (VOD)
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

After 20 years in prison, a former inmate becomes a rideshare driver to catch up on his life in society.

Cast

• Robert DeCesare as Spencer Combs
• Kathryn Schott as Molly Sullivan
• Taylor Nichols as Ted Larsson
• Mario Tardón as Thomas
• Myron Donley as Henry
• Daniel Reed Ferrell as Young Spencer
• Heidi Méndez as Aunt Lidia
• Samuel Garnett as Will Patterson
• Paul Dinh-McCrillis as Jeff Harding
• Kristen Vaganos as Stephanie
• Nick Bardin as Sergej Zudarovich
• Joel Riley Martin as Sal Murphy
• Eric Riggs as Young Jeff Harding
• Chrissy Bergeron as Lourdes Combs
• Yessi Sanchez as Babel
• Michael Cortez as Inspector Ramirez
• Kelvin Adekunle as Nick
• Isabella Cohen as Anne
• Olivia Cohen as Mary
• Bunny Gibson as Jackie
• Tryphena Wade as Officer Flynn
• Vasilisa Badeka as Daughter

Production

Car scenes in the film were shot in a studio and exteriors were composited together. Boadella said it was only possible to do during the pandemic because the empty studios were generous enough to give them a one-day rate for the entire film.^[1]

Release

The film premiered at New Jersey International Film Festival on January 28, 2023,^[2] screened at DC Independent Film Festival,^[3] NewFilmmakers Los Angeles^[4] and was released on video on demand on December 19, 2023, by Freestyle Digital Media.^[5][6]

Reception

The film won Best Feature Film at New Jersey International Film Festival's Spring 2023 edition.^[7] Natalie Tango at New Jersey Stage compared the film to Taxi Driver and said it is a phenomenal psychological horror film, complimenting DeCesare's performance and claiming the color "tones of blue and red help indicate the film’s negative, depressing theme."^[8]