A sweet, misunderstood little girl trying to fit in at school could be interpreted as a film festival staple at this point. Two years ago, Jazzy proved me wrong, when I had almost no great drive to see it going in, yet it quietly emerged as one of my favorites of 2024’s Tribeca. Rain Reign appears destined to follow that same trajectory. Despite having Jeremy Sisto and Paul Rudd amongst the roster, the premise struck me as a generic indie. Instead, Rain Reign emerges as a deeply emotional, note perfect character study on a neurodivergent twelve year old, played by neurodivergent actress Felice Kakaletris. Throw in the bond of a sweet elder dog, and there’s little else to critique. With a central performance that carries a raw authenticity and beautiful messages about grief and bravery, Rain Reign is one of the most special films of the festival.
We follow Rose, who has been getting increasingly worse at school with her panic attacks. Her father (Sisto), an alcoholic drunkard, could not care less. At the top of the film, he brings home a beautiful animal that Rose then names Rain. Rose is obsessed with homonyms, which are words that have the same pronunciation yet have very different meanings. Rain’s name alone has three different meanings. Rain becomes a sort of constant companion for Rose.
Rose’s Uncle Weldon (Rudd) actually seems much more invested in her life. When Rose gets banned from riding the school bus for distracting a driver and causing a crash, Weldon steps in, offering to drive her daily. Being around Rose so often opens up a can of worms. Rose’s father has still not informed her that her mother died, instead saying that she ran away. Uncle Weldon wants to tell Rose before she finds out another way. The brothers clash, creating a difficult situation with handling the complexities. An extra layer of complication on this level has been applied to the proceedings, as Rose already often struggles to process her emotions.
As the Uncle in the story, Paul Rudd adds a sense of gravitas and understanding. He always wants to help Rose and support her interests. The addition of a super storm lurking causes many of the lingering threads to come to a head. Proving that Rose’s father does not concern himself with situations within his own household, during the storm, he lets Rain outside to use the bathroom, and she goes missing. Understandably, Rose begins to spiral as she obsesses over locating Rain before it’s too late.
Stylish flourishes help to expand the scope of Rose’s condition, including her obsession with prime numbers that swirl onto the screen. Her anxiety attacks feel raw and realistic, aided by the fact that Rose is played by an actual neurodivergent person. As a dog lover, that element hits particularly hard. Rain is an adorable dog, and the bond she shares with Rose supercharges the film’s energy. Rose really leans on Rain as her anchor. Rose is asked to grow up quickly, without even a basic grasp on what it means for someone to die or how to grieve them. Her journey is filled with ups and downs, but always remains fascinating throughout.
Rose’s support system can leave much to be desired. Her father frustrates, although he is clearly struggling too with his own grief journey. In the week of the devastating hurricane that hits her inland town, though, the kids at school and the teachers show an incredible amount of grace and support. For some reason, I was anticipating a completely devastating turn of events, one that would contrast Rose’s mother against Rain’s disappearance in a sort of death cocktail. Thankfully, Rain Reign does not follow that path. Instead, we get an incredibly uplifting story about the power of an innocent girl forced to face various trials and tribulations. Rose becomes an easy character to root for, one frequently in need of a hug.
This adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s bestselling novel, directed by Erika Burke Rossa, is executed with stellar precision that emphasizes the deeper character interplay. Although elements of Rose’s story will certainly feel familiar, Rain Reign takes a unique enough approach that it feels both deeply original and deeply affecting. I was not anticipating this film to become a new favorite, but for Felice Kakaletris’s performance alone, Rain Reign is a compelling must-see.
Rain Reign debuted at 2026’s Tribeca Film Festival.
