NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! I find joy in independent films from stories told free of big Hollywood studio interference. One such film is Isaac Hirotsu Woofter’s dramatic thriller Bound.
Alexandra Faye Sadeghian stars as Bella, a young woman suffering from PTSD who finally takes a stand against her abusive stepfather to save her mother and herself. Unfortunately, her plan backfires on her, and she is forced to flee to the streets of New York City with only the clothes on her back and her pet squirrel.
Now homeless in New York, Bella tries to find food, shelter, and work—none of which comes easy. Barely surviving and fighting through her mental and emotional issues, Bella finds a lifeline in former veteran-turned-coffee shop owner Owais (Ramin Karimloo), who offers her a job; bartender Marta (Jessica Pimentel), who offers her a place to sleep; and designer Standrick (Jaye Alexander), who offers her friendship. Like Bella, each member of this quartet has problems of their own and must rely on one another to keep it together.
As massive distrust turns to trust, their friendship is tested when, in an incredible coincidence, connections are soon made between one member and Bella’s violent stepfather, Gordy (Bryant Carroll).

“Bella tries to find food, shelter, and work—none of which comes easy.”
One of the many elements of storytelling that Hollywood gets wrong is character development. Most of the time, a story is built on the real-life persona of the star being cast in the role. Tom Cruise ultimately plays a caricature of himself in every role. The Joy of Bound is the four very distinct characters: the homeless Bella, the PTSD veteran Owais, the tough undocumented immigrant Marta, and the gay designer Standrick. Each character has their own personality, desires, and backstory, which play together perfectly in the coincidental moment that brings them together.
These four disparate characters create a rich tapestry as their stories weave together in unlikely ways. You feel an authentic friendship between them—so much so that they are all willing to risk their lives for one another. As Bella, Alexandra Faye Sadeghian carries the film’s emotional core, and her supporting cast truly supports her performance in what a true ensemble should look like.
Bound is a dark thriller in every sense of the word. Yet themes of love, friendship, and loyalty never feel out of place—even with its brutal ending. Even the antagonists’ sympathies are played with and rarely feel forced.
Kudos to writer/director Isaac Hirotsu Woofter for making his story feel like it belongs on the big screen. I say this because I know if the script got into the hands of a studio executive, it would have been literally noted to death. The story’s soul would have left long ago. Films like Bound are great examples of what true independent filmmaking should look like.
Bound screened at the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival.