On a late night drive from JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan, a young woman (Dakota Johnson) and her cab driver (Sean Penn) start talking. The usual pleasantries and jokes soon turn into a game between the two strangers as they exchange stories about important people in their lives. As their conversation unravels, secrets are revealed, advice is shared and a genuine bond is forged. At times funny, sexy, tense and deeply heartfelt, this chance encounter impacts both in ways neither could’ve ever imagined.

Christy Hall’s directorial debut manages to achieve the impossible: turning what could have been a mundane trek through traffic into a propulsive and remarkably real ode to human connection in an increasingly isolated world. Hall’s screenplay bursts with authenticity and emotion, refusing to sugarcoat the complexity of either character while making the most of every moment. Anchored by two extraordinary performances from Johnson and Penn, Daddio is a one-of-a-kind odyssey that beautifully honors New York City and the people who call it home.––Cyrus Cohen

Christy Hall