‘Ben Is Back’ Teaser: Julia Roberts & Lucas Hedges Star In Hard-Hitting Family Drama Debuting At TIFF

One of the upcoming films premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival that is getting a fair amount of awards buzz is the drama “Ben is Back.” And when you take a look at the new teaser, you can definitely see why.

The teaser for “Ben is Back” is the definition of a tease. The 1-minute long scene (it’s not so much a trailer or traditional teaser) shows exactly what is the main plot point of the film. As the title implies, Ben, an estranged son, surprises his mom by showing up at their house on Christmas Eve morning. And without giving any reasons, we see the mom welcome him back with open arms, as the young daughter warns her not to. The little bit of footage is short and completely out of context, but it says so much about the film.

“Ben is Back” is propelled by an amazing cast that includes Academy Award nominee Lucas Hedges and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts, but also stars the always-great Courtney B. Vance and newcomer Kathryn Newton.

The film is directed by Peter Hedges, who is probably best known for his previous directorial efforts like “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” “Dan in Real Life,” and “Pieces of April.” However, before that, he was an accomplished author and screenwriter, with films like “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “A Map of the World,” and “About a Boy,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination.

“Ben is Back” will have its world premiere at TIFF before debuting on December 7 in theaters.

Here’s the synopsis for the film:

19 year-old Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges) unexpectedly returns home to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben’s mother, Holly (Julia Roberts), is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother’s undying love for her son is tested as she does everything in her power to keep him safe. Ben is Back also stars Courtney B. Vance (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) and Kathryn Newton (“Lady Bird”).