Isabel's Garden

Loved the authenticity of the movie.

The story is very strong and really moved me.

I was really sobbing by the end of the movie.

One sentence of the movie stuck with me.

" I never told you it was ok to love her"

It felt that very often we don't voice many ok things to do to our children, our partners or our friends, including many feelings that are considered being bad when they are only normal to have.

It meant to me that giving permission to feel (whatever the feeling may be) was a wonderful gift.

Finally, knowing that director Kit Rich has been on the stepmom journey hersel, I really love how she showed it was ok to have a blended family that can love one another without conflicts.

It is a very hopeful movie.

This movie warmed my heart. I didn't expect to tear up throughout it, or laugh out loud, or leave feeling a bubbling of hope for humanity, but I did. This is a beautifully written and directed film, with fantastic acting. It's a touching and spirit-lifting story about unlikely friendships and family, and the choices we make as women to take ownership of our own narrative. I was shocked to learn that this is the director and writer Kit Rich's first feature film, which made it even more impressive and made me enjoy it even more. I look forward to seeing what comes next from her (hopefully something soon!)

I don't typically post reviews, but, after watching Isabel's Garden at the Los Angeles Film Festival, I had to make this my first. I was really blown away by the beautiful and complex story telling shown in the writing, directing, score...The director Kit Rich has already won awards for Best Direction for this film and you can see why. She pulled incredible performances from her cast, the cinematography of the film is epic, even the costume design is elevated. This is an important story for an important segment of women who are figuring out the day to day of blended family lives. A must see! Bravo to the filmmaker.

I had the chance to see Kit Rich's first feature film at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and I was blown away. The film is beautifully written and directed, with amazing strong female leads. Kit did an incredible job amplifying the voices of women from different backgrounds and ages. The actors were phenomenal, and the way the film portrays blended families is both refreshing and real. It's a heartwarming and inspiring story about unexpected friendships, family bonds, and the empowering choices women make to shape their own stories. While it deals with loss, it also has so much hope and joy woven in.

I had the privilege of seeing Isabel's Garden at the LA Film Festival recently. My friends and I heard a lot of buzz about it and wanted to check it out. As we walked out of the theater, we all looked at each other and collectively said, "Wow." It's beautifully written, masterfully shot, and the cast is incredible together. It made me tear up, but it's also so full of hope. The buzz is well deserved and I'm not surprised it's already winning awards. A reminder of how important -- and impressive -- independent filmmaking is. I could not recommend it more. If IMDB let you give 11 stars, I'd give it 11!