Firecrackers (2019)
Director: Jasmin Mozaffari
Screenwriter: Jasmin Mozaffari
Starring: Michaela Kurimsky, Karena Evans, Callum Thompson, David Kingston, Tamara LeClair, Scott Cleland, Dylan Mask
Jasmin Mozaffari’s feature debut Firecrackers is an energetic, emotionally charged coming-of-age drama that stands out in the independent film scene. Anchored by a raw, fearless lead performance from Michaela Kurimsky, the film crafts a vivid portrait of two young women navigating the messy, often hostile transition into adulthood. Mozaffari writes and directs with a clear point of view, shaping a story that is both intimate and politically resonant, and that centers female experience without apology.
The film follows its protagonists as they contend with a variety of pressures — from male entitlement and violence to limited choices in small-town life — and it does so with a naturalistic style that feels lived-in and urgent. Dialogue often carries the cadence of real speech, and scenes are frequently shot close and personal, placing viewers inside the characters’ emotional landscapes. This approach highlights Kurimsky’s performance, which balances smoldering anger and vulnerable confusion with a convincing specificity: a young woman forced to grow up fast while still desperately clinging to the last sparks of rebellion.
Mozaffari’s direction emphasizes character over spectacle, yet the film also finds room for striking visual and sonic moments. Sunlight glinting in early exterior shots hints at a more hopeful ending, only to be countered by long stretches of night and confined interiors that underscore the film’s darker realities. These choices deepen the sense of displacement central to the story: hope exists, but it’s frequently eclipsed by the harsher elements of the characters’ worlds.
The score, composed by Casey MQ, is an essential element of the film’s atmosphere. Using layered drones and sustained chords, the music moves between a sense of dread and a dreamlike quality, amplifying emotional beats and sometimes seeming to lead the camera rather than merely accompany it. These soundscapes help lift the film beyond straightforward realism, turning select sequences into metaphorical moments that resonate on a psychological level.
Improvisation plays a notable role in the film’s texture. Mozaffari’s collaborative process with her actors results in scenes that feel spontaneous and immediate. That trust—especially in close-up moments—allows performances to breathe and transform, revealing characters in motion rather than as fixed types. Supporting actors, including Tamara LeClair as the protagonist’s mother, contribute grounded portrayals that enrich the film’s world and deepen its emotional stakes.
At its heart, Firecrackers interrogates how gender shapes coming-of-age experiences. It draws a clear line between the typical arcs offered to men and the far more precarious ones often available to young women, exposing the inequalities and dangers that can accompany female maturation. The film does not sentimentalize suffering; instead, it lays out the costs and compromises with a steady, unsparing gaze.
While firmly political in its themes, the film never sacrifices craft for message. Mozaffari’s visual sensibility, the committed performances, and Casey MQ’s evocative score combine to make a work that feels both urgent and artful. For viewers seeking a modern, female-centered coming-of-age story that treats its characters with honesty and complexity, Firecrackers delivers a powerful, memorable experience.
20/24