Set in the intimate surroundings of the Dendy Theatre in Newtown, Sydney, The Perfect Neighbor screened to a packed house as part of the Sydney Film Festival. Though smaller than other venues, the Dendy’s cozy interior created a fittingly personal atmosphere for such a raw and emotionally charged film. The festival itself spared no effort in elevating the experience, with media walls, dedicated box offices, and roaming photographers contributing to the energy and excitement in the air.
As I stepped into the theatre, the tension was thick. Festival-goers filled the space, eager for a story they may have heard whispers of in the news, but perhaps never fully understood. What followed was a gripping, quietly devastating documentary that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
Directed with restraint and clarity, The Perfect Neighbor recounts the tragic story of Ajike Owens, a loving mother of four, and her neighbour Susan Lorincz, a woman whose escalating hostility ultimately culminated in a tragic event. Set in Ocala, Florida, the film is a painstaking retelling of the events that unfolded over just a few short years marked by increasing racial tension, fear, and deep community divides.
What sets this documentary apart is its use of real footage. There are no reenactments, no dramatic narration. The story is told almost entirely through police bodycam videos, interrogation room recordings, and community testimony. It is this raw approach that makes The Perfect Neighbor so powerful. There is no filter between us and the truth. The tension builds slowly, insidiously, reflecting as it did in real life, with the film wisely allowing space for silence and reflection, yet never rushing to conclusions or manipulating emotion with cinematic tricks.
Susan Lorincz’s body language throughout the interrogations is especially revealing. Her expressions, tone, and justifications are left unedited, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about her mindset and motives. Juxtaposed with footage of Ajike’s children, witnesses to both the lead-up and the aftermath of the incident, the result is emotionally harrowing. Watching young lives bear witness to such trauma, drives home the deep and lasting damages caused by systemic and interpersonal racism.
Yet, The Perfect Neighbor is not just a character study, nor a true-crime breakdown. It contextualises the personal tragedy within a much broader societal failure. The film weaves in testimony from family members, friends, and community leaders, all of whom speak not only to Ajike’s strength and love as a mother, but also to the injustice of a system that continually fails Black Americans. Protests erupt in the streets, demanding accountability and change. Through this, The Perfect Neighbor subtly but clearly points to the fundamental flaws in the American law enforcement and legal systems, flaws that allow prejudice to influence outcomes, often at the cost of human life.
The pacing is deliberate and effective, encouraging reflection. Every pause, every slow fade, gives the viewer time to sit with the discomfort and absorb the implications of what has just been shown. There are no easy answers, and the film doesn’t attempt to offer any. Instead, it holds up a mirror to the viewer and asks: What kind of neighbour are we? What kind of community do we want to be part of?
As the lights came up, the theatre buzzed with conversation. Many audience members remained in their seats, processing. Outside, clusters of viewers gathered to talk, some angry, others tearful, all clearly moved. This was not just a film screening. It was a moment of communal reckoning.
The Perfect Neighbor is a chilling and haunting documentary. It doesn’t sensationalise. It doesn’t shout. Instead, it quietly insists that we pay attention, to what was lost, to what continues to be lost, and are reminded of the work that still needs to be done. The Perfect Neighbor that should be widely seen, widely discussed, and never forgotten.
The Perfect Neighbor is screening in Australia has part of the 2025 Sydney Film Festival.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.sff.org.au
https://www.sff.org.au/program/event/the-perfect-neighbor