Film shown at the Avalon Theater

Written and directed by RJ Smith, The Side Effects of U follows Darius Bryant as he navigates a
fractured reality shaped by the burdens of his past. Drifting between memory and revelation,
Darius confronts an unraveling relationship with his father years after a tragic incident
transforms their family dynamic forever. Through its intimate prose and striking visuals, this
surreal drama explores the lingering effects of trauma, identity, and reconciliation.
“The film exists in the space between memory and healing. It mirrors my family’s story while
also imagining what it means to confront the source of that pain,” said Smith. “In doing so, it
asks a question I have carried for years: What does forgiveness look like when the wound never
fully disappears?”

Event Details
What: The Side Effects of U World Premiere
When: Sept. 12, 2026 – Voices Heard, Block 1, 1 PM
Where: Avalon Atmospheric Theater – 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207