The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Kyra takes place in Brooklyn but could have been set in any grim city.Kyra is a middle-aged woman who lives with her ailing Mother in a modest apartment in a not-bad by shabby part of town. There is a bond between Mother and Daughter, but we can see it's a reluctant one for Kyra.Mom is frail (but big-boned) and perhaps has gotten senile. Kyra isn't quick to grant her wish for a bit of Schnapps, but does so on the promise Mom will put her oxygen mask on again for awhile. Mom gives Kyra a jocular salute, for her trouble.Kyra is out of work, has been for two years we learn. Childless and divorced; her ex-husband's current wife is expecting a child soon. Kyra looks for work tirelessly; applies for clerical positions, applies for behind-the-counter jobs, applies to anyone offering a life-raft of support but time and again Kyra is turned away. Due to her age, her looks, lack of certain experience perhaps. After one promising interview, Kyra knocks over a pencil cup. Awkwardness ensues as she attempts to straighten up; it's clear this encounter is a microcosm of her disappointing life.Reduced to handing out fliers, Kyra's worst fear comes to fruition: Mother has passed away in her favorite chair while Kyra was out looking for meager support. Mom's pension checks were a huge income source; what to do?At the funeral, Kyra is comforted by the apartment complex's maintenance man; the ex-husband makes an appearance, inquires after Kyra's situation. She answers she has "a few things in the works." We can feel her tenuous condition through this popular white lie; though she is looking and looking, jobs are scarce and seemingly always out of reach.After the funeral, Kyra retreats head-down into a nearby bar and encounters a polite neighbor who recalls Kyra taking care of her Mother. This pair will begin a relationship; sexual at first but Kyra makes it clear (by avoiding him for a bit after that first night) she wants more than just a fling. In some ways she wants to be alone, but not so alone her desperation isn't noticed.Soon after the funeral, Kyra tries to cash a check at the bank and is refused. Soon after this, a woman is shown hobbling down the street w/ a cane and showing her ID to cash a check at the same location. And soon after this, Kyra's polite new love interests notes he saw a woman "who looked just like your Mother" the other day while driving (he works as a cabbie, but also spends time in a nursing home for the extra cash.) It's now obvious Kyra is running a pension-check scam; we can see this is done out of necessity. When "Doug" realizes what is happening (he spots her again, this time Kyra sees she is spotted) he is angry and asks her to stop.Kyra does so; she is not one to take charity and at no point does she try to take advantage of anyone to help her now dire situation. But soon an impending eviction notice is tacked on her door; she is four months behind on her Mom's old apartment's rent. Once again, we see "Mom" slowly going down the street.Slowly but surely someone notices something amiss; eventually things come to a head between Kyra and Doug (he agrees to help one last time, once Kyra comes clean about going back to her scheme) and the authorities, who know more than they let on, in devastating fashion.All through this grimness, we see Kyra turned away, politely but firmly, again and again. Her ex-husband helps with what cash he has on him when Kyra makes a desperate plea for any assistance at their old home, after turning up one evening cold and alone and waiting for hours. Kyra studies herself in the mirror often, which gives us a chance to see her determination, but also her silent torment. Is there any hope for Kyra, any rope to be thrown?The final shot lingers in memory; Kyra looking forlorn and perhaps in numb shock as the curtain has come down on her empty stage and she looks out a window to the audience, as if to say "This could be you...beware."Pfeiffer embodies the role of the luckless and beaten Kyra; the few times she holds her head up something soon pushes her chin down again. Sutherland is quite fine as the helpful neighbor; somewhat pushy at first, but backs off when he sees how wounded Kyra is inside and becomes a willing ally. The remaining cast is small. with few lines but not so terse we don't learn something about themselves in this joy-free drama. The film's focus remains on Kyra's struggle, and her growing fear of her charade being discovered. Which makes the plot vehicle of a lost wallet rather questionable; on the other hand when one is desperate and not thinking clearly, things likely won't pan out for the perpetrator of any crime.As has been noted, Where Is Kyra is filmed in such a way that any splash of color (Kyra's yellow coat, a red scarf, etc.) is like a bolt from the blue. The soundtrack is industrial at times, and jarring; this, too is calculated to add tension to the slowly building-up proceedings.Kyra is a short film, and not for impatient viewers. Anyone expecting a happy ending, or a concrete resolution, look elsewhere. Kyra is sadly all too realistic. That a lovely and well-off actress could effectively portray someone like Kyra in all her dour vulnerability is remarkable.

Before reviewing this film i must say that (this film isn't for everyone) which means it's not a fun movie to watch to pass the time or a regular drama that gives you the pleasure after watching it.To be specific it is one of the darkest films I've ever seen since ( sunset Blvd. 1950 ) both of them discuss the problems of getting old. (Sunset Blvd.) discuss the life of aged actress in Hollywood while this film discuss the life of a middle aged woman who can't support herself after the death of her mother,she can't do anything because of her age (because most of the places are looking for young, fresh faces) so in order to save herself and her life she kept taking her mom salary by pretending that she is her mom.what was so special about this story is the reality of it, there are a lot of women like Kyra not only in New York, but in the whole world that can't support themselves and the biggest problem is that no one cares , it is so sad and tragic but it's real and people must watch this film to know what's happening in the world not all people are happy and rich there are so many of them who can't even eat.I'm totally speechless to talk about Michelle Pfeiffer performance, she was so good I've not seeing her acting like that since (The Deep End of the Ocean) which was released in 1999. i'm not saying that she didn't give us a good since them she played many good roles but not like this one, her body language and face expression are great.There are two amazing scenes in this movie that blew up my mind :The first one when she discovers that she lost her ID card and she just goes nuts, looking everywhere, even walking in the streets while talking to herself because of the scariness she is feeling of finding about her fraud.The second one is when she goes to her ex-husband asking him for money just to pay the rent of her apartment and she is so proud to ask him because of her pride and i'll admitted that i dropped tears while watching this scene because it is a a difficult situation that no one wish to be in. (this scene must be studied in acting schools)Director Andrew Dosunmu gave us her a very unique way of work most of the scene were dark and the main focus the whole time was in the whole time was in the main character Kyra which kind a strange thing for me that amused me, but i don't think the a regular person would like. There are also so many people didn't like the music of the film calling it annoying, which didn't matter to me because I've found so perfect because it described the situation the Kyra is living in.

Where is Kyra? is one of the best films I've seen in ages. Masterfully shot, it's a superb rendering of a life in quiet desperation descending into bleakness. Michelle Pfeiffer is heartbreaking.-When she's handing out flyers, just in the distance you can see the sign for Fresh Pond Road, which is in Queens; later, she boards a M60 bus which runs only in Manhattan and Queens. Not every film taking place in an outer borough is set in Brooklyn. ;)

Dark in appearance and soooo sloooooooow. I gave it a 2 only because of the actors and the different technique used to portray the characters.