Beatrice, a scrappy 13-year-old, begins questioning family structures, the Catholic church, and basically everything else, after her mother chooses to take some time away from her family to find herself. She is determined to reunite her parents, Parent Trap-style, while also dealing with bullies, adolescence, and a sanctimonious “good” family at her local congregation. Guided by her closest confidante, her church’s priest (J.K. Simmons), she makes bold, and sometimes inadvisable, choices as she navigates this tricky time in a young girl’s life.

First-time feature director Lindsay Lanzillotta has assembled a stellar cast, including J.K. Simmons (WHIPLASH, CIFF 2014), Abby Elliott (THE BEAR; LOVE - LOVE, CIFF 2026), John Reynolds (SEARCH PARTY), Jack Innanen (ADULTS, BIG MISTAKES), and Mary Walsh (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES), who expertly navigate the drama and comedy through the 1980s. Produced by local independent production company, Orogen Entertainment, PURGATORY is a charming and funny film that can easily sit along side classics like LADY BIRD and ARE YOU THERE GOD IT'S ME MARGARET?