The Speed of Life is an American drama film, directed by Ed Radtke and released in 2007. The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Sammer, a bored teenager in New York City who steals video cameras from tourists and retreats into fantasies based on the footage he finds on them.
After his father allegedly moves to Alaska, foster kid Sammer and friends begin stealing camera's from tourists. They sell the cameras, but Sammer keeps the tapes to get a glimpse into other people's lives. Probation officer Frank pays Sammer to follow around Jerry, an old man with many grievances.
Critical reception
Reviewing the film for Variety, Jay Weissberg described it as a story about misfit teenagers in Brooklyn who steal video cameras. While noting the film's ambition, he argued that its large ensemble of characters ultimately causes the narrative to lose focus.
The film won the Director's Choice award for Excellence in Screenwriting at the 2009 Sedona International Film Festival. It also won the Queer Lion award for best LGBTQ-related film at the 64th Venice International Film Festival.
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