The Relationtrip is receiving buzz worthy reviews at SXSW

SWSW festival is in full swing but so far ‘The Relationtrip’, an indie road trip romance has stood out of the crowd as a weird and wonderful film that has set tongues wagging that opened Saturday, 11th March in Austen, Texas. 

Quirky: The film stars Actress Renée Felice Smith and Actor Matt Bush

Directed by Renée Felice Smith and C.A. Gabriel, the film is set around two self-proclaimed loners, Beck (Renee Felice Smith) and Liam (Matt Bush) who fight the urge to settle down and find love who are fighting the future of adulthood.

After bonding over their mutual disinterest in relationships, they decide to go away together on a “friend” trip. And that’s when things get weird.

Portraits: C.A. Gabriel and Rene Felice Smith of ‘Relationtrip’ (L) and Matt Bush Right posed for portraits at the SXSW festival

Puppet Master: Spencer Lott of ‘Relationtrip’ posed with his puppet who cameos stars in the film 

Debut: The Film is Smith and Gabriels directorial debut and together wrote, produced and directed the film together

Smith old the Austin Chronicle “It takes about 20 minutes until what initially seems a straight-up indie rom-com gets weird when Chippy, a Jim Henson-type reject with a personality somewhere in the neighborhood of Inside Out’s Disgust and Seth McFarlane’s Ted, appears. 

“Aside from Chris and I just realizing a childhood dream of making a movie with a puppet, the idea of Chippy’s character was specifically designed as a physicalization of that asshole voice in all of our heads that tells us that we’re not good enough. That we’re too fat, we’re too weird, we don’t deserve to be loved, that voice that creeps back in when insecurity rears its ugly head.”

Red Carpet: Producers and Directors before the premiere posted to Instagram

The Film is Smith and Gabriel’s directorial debut and together wrote, produced and directed the film together. Gabriel composed the original score and sweetly are both are married and have known each other since 6th grade. The film is a strong and successful debut for the directing duo.

Showstopper: After bonding over their mutual disinterest in relationships, they decide to go away together on a “friend” trip and that’s when things get weird

The film will show its final screening at the SXSW festival Wednesday, March 15, 11am, Alamo South Lamar