Sightlines · reception

How A Thousand and One was received

2023 · A.V. Rockwell · A Thousand and One on Sightlines

The arc

It stormed out of Sundance 2023 with the Grand Jury Prize and rave reviews, then got largely bypassed by the big awards bodies — and has since settled into 'one of 2023's most criminally underseen films' status among film fans.

What’s debated

The perennial flashpoint is Teyana Taylor's Oscar snub — routinely cited as one of the decade's most egregious — alongside a genuine split over whether the late-film reveal deepens the story or undercuts it.

Its footprint

It's become shorthand for the musician-turned-serious-actor pivot done right: Teyana Taylor, known for R&B and music videos, delivering a performance that won the Gotham Award and dominated 'best of the year' conversations.

Where it stands

A canon climber and Letterboxd word-of-mouth favorite — the 2023 indie people insist you watch when lamenting what awards season overlooked.

Did you know? A.V. Rockwell's feature debut won the Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Dramatic) at Sundance 2023 — and Teyana Taylor went on to win the Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Performance, in her first leading film role.