The Things We Carry

I can relate this this movie very much as I too lost my mother who was also fun and artsy like Sunny. However, I would have enjoyed seeing more kindness built into Em by thanking her moms friends for their help at the end. This film really opened the door to the reverse roles in a parent acting more like a child and I am glad it did.

As a psychiatrist, so often I see patients who remain stuck in the trauma of their family. The very existence of this fascinating and moving film--made by two sisters whose mother struggled with drug addiction--demonstrates the transformative power of art. That the Lobit sisters worked together to write, produce, and have one of them star in this movie is a testament to their talent. The film stands on its own as a great story, but it was especially inspiring to see the filmmakers together answering questions after the Wisconsin Film Festival and to learn that although the film wasn't entirely autobiographical, it does in many ways represent their own triumph over hardship.

Intense. Real. Gripping. Relatable. Well written. Visually captivating. This is a wonderful indie flick that pulls you in and really captures the struggles of a family affected by drugs abuse. I found myself relating to its characters and their emotional battles which is always a tell tale sign of an amazing film. This movie definitely pulls on your heartstrings and you come away with the feeling that you've been let in on something very personal and also thinking about how you would feel and act if this story was actually your life. For being an independent movie, the production is really top notch and you can tell the film makers and actors put their heart and soul into bringing the story to life. Kudos and bravo to everyone involved in this movie!!!

This film does an excellent job of telling painful truths without pulling punches or going over the top. What starts out seeming like a very black and white tale develops into one of subtle complexities that makes the extreme situation one to which we can all relate.

The writing is honest and real. Each character, down to the most minor, is full of humanity. Acting performances are all strong, but most notable are those of Ilene Graff, Daniel Zacapa, and Alexis Rhee. Ms Rhee said more with her eyes than most actors can with pages of dialog. No production detail was missed. Set decorating was perfect. Lighting was as harsh as the story being told. The score enhanced without distracting.

This is a great drama for any independent film lovers. Very real and natural acting, great storyline. It's a very moving film, with a lot of depth and emotion. All of the actors were great in each of their roles. The woman who played the mom was insane! It looks beautiful which is interesting in contrast to the edgy quality of the story. I also loved the score and music. Sometimes that can be overdone, other times it's not even good enough to notice, but in this movie it was perfect. The filmmakers were at the Boston Film Festival for a Q&A and it was really cool to find out that they were a sister team. Look out Cohen Brothers! See this movie if you can!