The Things We Carry

It is a familiar story. Abusive addict mother with 2 daughters who react at opposite ends of the spectrum. One daughter stays with mother. Other daughter runs. Sisters initially unable to see the others perspective. It's a sad story and sadly true to so many families without a loving mother. I identified to the end but was really hoping for something new.

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!

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.

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.

This movie is as real as it gets for me. The lead takes us on a journey with her through memories of her mother's life/death. She reaches her breaking point toward the end of the story with the "things she was carrying" about her mother's addiction and it's impact on her and their family. During the body of the film I was stuck by her inability to be social with other people because of her inner rage. In the interaction she has with her sister during the film, we see her more human side. It really made me admire her for taking on a difficult, personal story line. She did an amazing job as well as the whole cast. This movie truly moved me. and made me think. I highly recommend it!