Two married couples meet again for the first time in years, for a conversation in a church classroom. The facilitator pays meticulous attention to the smallest detail: the arrangement of the chairs, the placement of the tissue box, the window decorations. They are here to process a high school shooting, after all. The strength of this emotionally overwhelming chamber drama on guilt, anger, forgiveness and healing lies both in the big moments of the screenplay and the small episodes, when the existential aspects of grief rub up against the profane organisational questions of everyday life. And though the title may be interpreted as referring to a church service as well as a multi-victim shooting, in his feature-film debut as a director, actor Fran Kranz convincingly manages to avoid religious clichés while focussing his full attention on the authenticity of his characters.

Fran Kranz makes his debut as screenwriter and director with MASS. He is a Los Angeles/USA native who has been working professionally as an actor for more than 20 years. A Yale graduate, his most recent credits include THE LOUDEST VOICE and HOMECOMING. He is best known for his work in the film CABIN IN THE WOODS and has appeared on and off Broadway, most notably in Mike Nichols’ DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Filmography: 2021 MASS