By: Mariah Thomas
Photo By Robert E. Newman
Tribeca and film festivals alike always bring forth beautiful stories that deserve a chance to be seen. I immensely felt that way about Misha Calvert’s movie Fault. It is a short film that captures female rage in its purest form. Being told through the lens of a tennis star grappling with realizing past trauma and breaking down her walls, this is a highly relatable story. Fault has the ability to bring forth a new wave of feminism in film.
Steph (Sarah Rich) is a beloved tennis champion who has an estranged relationship with her sister Gigi (Coco Jourdana). The pair have drifted over buried trauma that has never been properly discussed which led to different interpretations as to what happened. Gigi visits her sister on the eve of the U.S open and reignites a conversation that threatens Steph’s career. A heated tennis match turns into a heated conversation and ends in cathartic screaming from both ladies as they release the tension they’ve been holding onto for years.
My favorite part of this short is its ability to very clearly transcend the constraints of its own plot. By that I mean this exact concept could be told from hundreds of points of view with the same dialogue and still hold such a deep impact. At its core this is a story of women working through their trauma. This is a film many will relate to despite it being centered on tennis. The acting performances, writing and directing are in a league of their own. Every second of these fourteen minutes feels intentional. Not a second was wasted or forced.
This film was directed, written and co-produced by Misha Calvert. I love when a director is able to take on different roles for a project because their initial vision shines through. Having a fuller sense of control allows the director/writer to tell the story in the way they intended. That really shows in this with Calvert in the director’s and writer’s chair. Mentioned earlier, there is a heated conversation that takes place during a heated tennis match. From the shot choices to the tense acting from Rich and Jourdana to the dialogue; I was completely blown away. This moment made me crave more from this film and want to explore Calvert’s other work.
Fault made its premiere to the world at Tribeca’s 2026 festival. It is undoubtedly a film to keep your eyes peeled for. I think this is a movie that every woman needs to see, especially for the ending. It is a moment that provides the ultimate level of empathy and provides a self-emotional release. While a short film, this story has such a deep and lasting impact.