AMERICAN INDIES

OUR HERO, BALTHAZAR

2025 / 96 min / color

Though Balthazar and Solomon come from vastly different worlds, they share a profound sense of frustration and existential emptiness. Balthazar observes the world from a palatial New York apartment overlooking Manhattan, while Solomon sees it from the fringes of a small Texas town, reeling from losing his job and on the verge of eviction. Their paths would never have crossed if it weren’t for the Internet. The catalyst for their encounter is a provocative online comment by Solomon, which Balthazar interprets as a chilling plot for a school shooting. Recognizing the viral potential and a shot at online martyrdom, Balthazar decides to take action. He travels to Texas for a direct confrontation, believing that preventing a tragedy will make him a hero. Oscar Boyson’s directorial debut is a bold, razor-sharp satire of contemporary America, dissecting everything from toxic masculinity and gun culture to the performative emptiness of social media and the deep-seated loneliness of Gen Z. Through a disturbing, darkly humorous lens, Boyson explores both the personal confusion of his protagonists and the profound social stratification of the United States.