You Then, Me Now

Some friendships feel like they’ll last forever—until they reach a breaking point. In Stephanie Wambugu’s Lonely Crowds, two girls initially bonded together by rough upbringings have their friendship tested decades later as they enter the competitive art world of New York City in the 90s. In Emily Nemens’ Clutch, five best friends of two decades have survived through COVID, childbirth, and midcareer challenges, but when a reunion trip to Palm Springs finally makes it out of the group chat, they realize just how much their lives have changed since their college days. In Naima Coster’s Take What You Can, two best friends move near one another when they’re both pregnant so that they can raise their children together, but the harsh realities of class difference, the demands of marriage and motherhood, and an old, unspoken rift threaten to destroy their bond. Moderated by Kyle Dillon Hertz (The Lookback Window).