Kate Tsang’s coming-of-age comedy “Marvelous and the Black Hole,” has another magic trick up its sleeve: a charming trailer, just released.
Written and directed by Tsang, the film follows a young teenager, Sammy (Miya Cech), with a knack for getting into trouble as she struggles to deal with familial loss. A chance encounter with party magician Margot (Rhea Perlman) leads to an unlikely friendship, as Margot teaches the teen sleight-of-hand magic, and helps her navigate her inner demons and family issues.
Sammy clearly has a dark sense of humor — when asked by her teacher what her passion is and how she could monetize it, she deadpans “a euthanasia service that comes to your door” in response. She also can’t understand why her older sister seems to be so accepting of the quick changes their family is going through.
Tsang told us last year that “the story is loosely based on my own childhood experiences with depression, feeling isolated, and attempting to find hope within this dark and confusing time.” Speaking of the film’s central bond, she added, “much of Margot and Sammy’s relationship was inspired by my relationship with my grandfather, who helped raise me after my parents’ divorce. He saw I was struggling and became the friend and confidante I needed.”
Nominated for an Emmy for her work writing on Cartoon Network’s “Steven Universe,” Tsang also has a number of award winning shorts under her belt, including “So You’ve Grown Attached” and “Welcome to Doozy.” “Marvelous and the Black Hole” marks her feature debut.
The film is slated for an April 22 theatrical release.