Fremont (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Fremont is a 2023 drama directed by Babak Jalali, starring Anaita Wali Zada as Donya, Eddie Tang and Jennifer McKay. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $601,594 worldwide on a $3 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Breakthrough Performance at the Spirit Awards 2024. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Babak Jalali
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Music Box Films
- Budget
- $3M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Fremont About?
The premise of Fremont without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Donya, an Afghan translator navigating life in Fremont, California, discovers a sense of purpose when she's promoted to write fortunes at a local factory. This unexpected role sparks a desire to connect with others, leading her to send out enigmatic messages to strangers across the Bay Area. As her words resonate with people she doesn't know, Donya grapples with the impact of her actions and the uncertain consequences of reaching out to the world.
Fremont Themes & Keywords
· 10 tags- refugee
- fortune cookie factory
- therapy session
- insomniac
- road trip
- reading a fortune aloud
- how fortune cookies are made
- fortune cookie
- reference to afghanistan
- karaoke
Fremont Cast & Characters
Anaita Wali Zada leads the cast as Donya, with Eddie Tang as Ricky and Jennifer McKay as Lin. Directed by Babak Jalali; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Babak Jalali
- Anaita Wali Zada as Donya
- Eddie Tang as Ricky
- Jennifer McKay as Lin
- Hilda Schmelling as Joanna
Also Starring in Fremont
· 6 more- Avis See-tho Fan
- Siddique Ahmed Salim
- Jeremy Allen White Daniel
- Neil Hamburger
- Taban Ibraz Mina
- Timur Nusratty Suleyman
More from Babak Jalali
More films directed by Babak Jalali, best-rated first: Radio Dreams, Land and Heydar, an Afghan in Tehran.
Fremont Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Fremont 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (65).
Fremont Echo Score Breakdown
Fremont delivers a thoughtfully understated indie experience, anchored by its striking black‑and‑white cinematography and nuanced performances. Critics and viewers alike commend the film’s visual restraint and the lead’s compelling presence, while noting occasional pacing lapses in the second half. The modest narrative resonates through its intimate portrayal of immigrant life, offering an emotionally resonant, if imperfect, slice of everyday drama. Overall, the film succeeds in creating a quietly affecting portrait that rewards attentive viewing.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, the film’s restrained black‑and‑white palette and tight aspect ratio are repeatedly praised. Critics highlight the stylish, low‑fi aesthetic and measured direction, while users note the gorgeous cinematography and thoughtful framing. Some reviewers suggest tighter editing could improve flow, but the visual design remains a strong, consistent asset throughout the work.
- Character & Emotion 80
When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance is described as mesmerizing and steadily compelling. Critics and users commend the nuanced acting and authentic chemistry among the ensemble. A few comments mention underdeveloped insights, yet the overall consensus acknowledges the depth and resonance of the portrayals, establishing an empathetic connection with the audience.
- Story & Flow 65
Regarding story and flow, the narrative is seen as modest and occasionally meandering, especially in the latter half. Critics appreciate its gentle, heartfelt tone but note a lack of dramatic urgency. Viewer feedback mirrors this mixed view, praising thematic relevance while criticizing pacing and occasional redundancy, leading to a balanced assessment of the film’s storytelling.
- Sensory Experience 85
The sensory experience receives strong commendation for its understated soundtrack and cohesive visual style. Reviewers highlight the deliberate slow pace, nuanced sound design, and the impact of the monochrome aesthetic. Both critics and audience members describe the sensory elements as integral to the film’s mood, reinforcing its intimate and contemplative atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 75
In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s subtle humor and lingering emotional themes encourage repeat viewings for many. Critics suggest it rewards patient audiences, and several users report thinking about the film long after it ends. While some find the pacing a barrier to frequent revisits, the overall impression is that its quiet depth sustains lasting appeal.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 98% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 84%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 72 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
23496 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Fremont Plot Summary
What happens in Fremont from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Donya Anaita Wali Zada is an Afghan refugee living in Fremont, California after serving as a translator for the United States Army in Afghanistan. She battles insomnia and a growing sense of loneliness, having been in the United States for eight months.
She spends her days in nearby San Francisco working at a fortune cookie factory run by a warm, outgoing couple—Ricky [Eddie Tang] and his wife Lin [ Jennifer McKay]—while Lin sometimes appears cool or wary toward Donya.
Donya and her co-worker, Joanna [Hilda Schmelling], package the cookies, and their older colleague, Fan [Avis See-tho], writes the fortunes.
Full summary
The whole story of Fremont, scene by scene
Fremont Box Office & Budget
Fremont grossed $601,594 worldwide on a $3 million budget, 20% of what it cost. $271,343 came from the US and Canada and $330,251 (55%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$601.6K
20% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $271.3K
- International
- $330.3K
- Budget
- $3M
Fremont Awards & Nominations
Fremont earned 1 award nomination, including Best Breakthrough Performance at the Spirit Awards 2024.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Spirit Awards 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Breakthrough Performance – Anaita Wali Zada
Fremont Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer Official Streaming Trailer [Subtitled]
- Clip Exclusive Clip
- Featurette Babak Jalali on “Fremont”
- Featurette FREMONT wins the JOHN CASSAVETES AWARDS at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
How Well Do You Know Fremont?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Donya's occupation when she first arrives in Fremont?
Fremont Also Known As
5 alternative titles, including “幸運餅乾製作中” and “弗里蒙特”.
- Also known as
-
- 幸運餅乾製作中
- 弗里蒙特
- 프리몬트
- فريمونت
- Фремонт
Seen Fremont?
Movies Like Fremont
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Firedancer, Finding Farideh and Land of Dreams.
Fremont FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Fremont, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Fremont?
Fremont runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was Fremont released?
Fremont was released on August 25, 2023.
Who directed Fremont?
Fremont was directed by Babak Jalali.
More films by Babak Jalali Who is in the cast of Fremont?
Fremont stars Anaita Wali Zada as Donya, Eddie Tang as Ricky and Jennifer McKay as Lin, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Fremont make at the box office?
Fremont grossed $601,594 worldwide ($271,343 domestic, $330,251 international) on a budget of $3 million.
How is Fremont rated?
Fremont has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Was Fremont nominated for any awards?
Fremont received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Fremont have a post-credit scene?
No. Fremont has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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