Netflix’s Voicemails for Isabelle is the kind of film that restores your faith in the rom-com genre, especially if you were starting to worry it lost some of its magic. The film premiered on the streamer on June 19th, and stars Zoey Deutch as Jill, a young woman who copes with her sister’s death by leaving voicemails on her phone.
But unbeknownst to Jill, Isabelle’s number has been reassigned to an elusive Austin real-estate agent named Wes, played by Nick Robinson. It doesn’t take long before Wes finds himself falling for the woman as she chronicles the raw, unfiltered events of her life. So, of course, there’s only one thing to do: Fly out to San Francisco and stage the meet-cute of Jill’s dreams.
That Hollywood Show chatted with writer-director Leah McKendrick and actor Ciara Bravo about the film’s balance of grief and romance, the emotional power of honesty, and how Isabelle’s light carries through the story.
Leah McKendrick On Falling In Love With Your Unfiltered Self
For Leah, so much of the movie comes down to the beauty of being completely unfiltered with the people who know us best. “I wanted to show that it’s impossible to not fall in love with your unfiltered self,” she said. “That if we were as honest as we are with our siblings, as open-hearted, I think we would move through the world in a way that was a little more connected.”
She also explained why that honesty has such a strong effect on Wes, who starts the film as someone more guarded. “I think somebody like Wes is pretty disconnected from his feelings, and is a little showy, and maybe a little bit of a game player with women. And being in the presence of such authenticity is both inspiring and obviously impossible not to fall in love with.”
Ciara Bravo Talks The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Isabelle
Ciara Bravo, who plays Isabelle, also opened up about finding the right balance for a character living with devastating circumstances while still radiating joy. She said she took inspiration from Claire Wineland, a young woman she met years ago who had cystic fibrosis. “Despite the fact that she was diagnosed with this illness, and she knew she was going to die at a young age, she had such life,” Ciara shared. “She had that mentality of saying yes, and making jokes and making friends and being happy.”
For Ciara, that real-life inspiration helped make Isabelle’s warmth feel grounded. “It’s really easy to get bogged down by the devastating circumstances of Izzy’s life or Izzy’s diagnosis,” she said. “But that love and that light just shines through so easily.”
Voicemails for Isabelle is currently available to stream on Netflix.
About “Voicemails for Isabelle”
Jill copes with her sister’s death by leaving her voicemails chronicling her chaotic life in San Francisco. When the number is unknowingly reassigned, an elusive Austin real estate agent begins receiving the hilariously confessional messages.
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