Dear Zoe (2022)
Film · Drama
Stream it, ifif you are in the mood for an earnest, tear-soaked exploration of adolescent grief.
A heavy coming-of-age story centered on the messy, painful process of processing sudden loss. It is a slow-burn emotional experience designed to elicit a cry, grounded by a strong lead performance from Sadie Sink.
What it is about
Tess enlists her biological father – a lovable slacker from the wrong side of the tracks – and the charming juvenile delinquent next door to help her come to grips with the death of her little sister.
Trailer
What Dear Zoe is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film is a somber and deliberate experience, moving at a gentle pace that mirrors the lethargy of mourning. The tone is heavily sentimental, leaning into the raw vulnerability of a teenager struggling to find her footing after a family tragedy. While there are moments of lightheartedness found in the blossoming relationships with her father and neighbour, the overarching atmosphere remains one of quiet, persistent sadness and introspection.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for viewers who appreciate character-driven dramas that don't shy away from messy emotions or the complexities of broken family dynamics. Sadie Sink's central performance provides the necessary weight to keep the story grounded. However, those seeking a fast-moving plot or a more subtle approach to storytelling should skip it. The caveat here is that the film is a deliberate tearjerker, sometimes bordering on the overtly manipulative to ensure an emotional response.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet, solitary evening when you have the emotional bandwidth to process a heavy subject. It is best watched when you want to feel something deeply without the distraction of complex subplots.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Trailer
How Dear Zoe leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
Expect to feel wrung out and reflective, left with the somber realization that healing from profound loss is a long, uneven, and often solitary journey.
How Dear Zoe ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
The film ends following Tess's seventeenth birthday, when Nick and Jimmy are arrested for their involvement in drug dealing. After their release, Tess and Jimmy share an intimate night during which she finally reveals the truth about Zoe’s death. She confesses that she left the three-year-old alone to watch news coverage of the September 11 attacks, leading to the child wandering into the road. Jimmy responds with love and support.
Tess ultimately chooses to move back into her old house with Elly, David, and Em. She visits the exact spot on the grass where Zoe landed after the hit-and-run and cries, finally confronting her grief. This return marks a full reconciliation with her mother and stepfather, indicating that the family is beginning to heal from their shared tragedy together.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
The Edge of Seventeen (2016)
the sharp, painful honesty of navigating teenage isolation and family friction
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
the heavy, unvarnished focus on the messy process of living with grief
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More clips
Teaser · Digital Spot
Questions people ask
- Is Dear Zoe a tearjerker film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tearjerker. A heavy coming-of-age story centered on the messy, painful process of processing sudden loss. It is a slow-burn emotional experience designed to elicit a cry, grounded by a strong lead performance from Sadie Sink.
- How long is Dear Zoe?
- Dear Zoe runs 94 min and was released in 2022.
- Where can I watch Dear Zoe in Australia?
- In Australia, Dear Zoe is included with Prime Video (all plans), Tubi TV (free).
- Is Dear Zoe worth watching?
- It depends: if you are in the mood for an earnest, tear-soaked exploration of adolescent grief. IMDb users rate it 5.9 out of 10 from 1,970 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 71% and TMDB users 6.5.
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