Recensioni degli utenti

I loved this gem of an indie film from beginning to end. I didn't even take a snack break or play around with my iPhone. I was hooked out of the gate! I loved the story and it's so relevant for what's going on today. Exceptional acting!! All of the actors did such a good job. And bravo to the actor!! The film moved along at a good pace. Well done folks! I hope to see more in the future from these talented people!!

Very well done movie. An excellent ensemble cast that deals with the important subject of mental health in relationships. The three leads do an outstanding job and the writing is powerful. I recommend a watch of this one.

This indie movie explores the struggles of three young adults, especially their mental health. The script is solid, the acting and directing good. The movie takes a deep look at trauma, depression, PTSD and shows how hard it is to move on and have a "normal" life after a trauma. It also shows that people are not alone, they can find help into other compassionate people who can relate to their traumas.

Lots of young people are dealing with mental health issues and this is a lovely portrayal of what they are going through. Authentically directed, marvelously acted.

This is a story about dealing with trauma and how that trauma can follow us even when we're trying to move past it. It follows Erica who moves to California to forget about a tragic event. The film opens in the middle of the aftermath of that event and we see her trying to process that as she starts new relationships and meets with a new group of damaged people who are all trying to help each other heal. This is a very moving film dealing very realistically with confronting topics that should have a light shined on them.

This movie does an amazing job at sharing a glimpse into the life of someone experiencing PTSD. Great movie!

With a powerful cast, the writer and director tells a gripping story about friendship and how does one move on from traumatic events. The story could have easily been mishandled but the writer, cast, and director take you into the emotions that comes with "survivor's guilt" and keep you in there until you can feel what the characters feel. What makes it also work is the story does not shy away with easy answers to the events but give a realistic take on what one must endure and what each character still must continually fight through even by credits end. This is a tale on what it takes to persevere and thrive in life and what happens if you don't and hide from life. Nicely done.

"The Extraordinary Ordinary"(2020): Embracing Uncommon Resilience

Anxiety and depression have both touched my life. They are far less prominent now. For a variety of reasons. Primary among these is the love and support of my family and friends.

This is the essence of the new independent drama "The Extraordinary Ordinary". We all, to paraphrase the enduring poetry of The Beatles, get by with a little help from our friends. Find our reason for being. Our purpose with which to flourish.

I spoke with filmmaker Natalie Rodriguez about "The Extraordinary Ordinary", her first feature motion picture.

"The Extraordinary Ordinary" is truly your baby, having written, directed and exec produced here. Clearly, this is a story you are driven to tell. What inspired you?

Growing up, I used to ask a lot of questions, especially when it came to mental health and wellness. The story was first 'born' when I was a junior in high school. For weeks, I kept thinking about the main character, ERICA (played by Maddison Bullock in the movie), and her journey of finding solace and healing from her own past. It almost felt like an obsession and I wanted to know her story. What pushed me, and I am sure most of the cast and crew could express the same, to get through the production/filming of this project was the rejection process.

Whether that was, rejection by an agent, manager, studio, and even a now-former boss telling me that I would 'fail' at making this movie, it only motivated me to get the project done. There is also a big stigma I continue to hear by some people in the industry how talking about recovery and mental health is a 'bad thing'. That always baffles me because mental health is part of health, therefore, if we go to the doctors for our annual physical, then why can't we do the same for our mind?

Anxiety and depression were once prominent in my life. They are not now. I never went to a place where I wanted to hurt myself. However, this is a subject explored in your film. If you would, please share your personal thoughts on mental health, and about those who struggle with emotional and psychological issues in their lives?

Of course! Until this day, it still bothers me how there is shame around mental health, wellness, and particularly, anxiety and depression. As someone who has been in counseling on and off for the past eight years, it truly does HELP to get help. Especially during this pandemic, I believe it is opening up more eyes on mental health and how people are seeking treatment and/or recognizing they need help themselves. But it is also a process, too. I think people, especially during a pandemic, need to be patient with themselves. Even I am still learning to do so. It is why I strongly recommend people to give counseling a try at least ONCE and see if it is for them. Plus, there could be a lot of good that comes with speaking to someone who is not part of your inner circle but a stranger.

I lost my precious mother earlier this year. One of the characters in "The Extraordinary Ordinary" has, as well. The scene in which this heartbroken son describes his mom as never seeing herself as special, and always only wishing that those she cares about are happy, touched me deeply. This is my mother. Parents play a crucial role in your film, whether it be noxious or nurturing. As the fiercely proud dad of three remarkable sons, would you talk with us about your feelings regarding the critical role, and lasting impact, we all have as parents of our children?

My sincere condolences! Our leading man, ALEX (played by Alex Montalban), actually used this scene as his audition. I watched his audition like 3-4 times and cried each time. There was just so much sincerity and empathy Alex Montalban delivered in the lines during the scene. It is one of my favorite scenes because, to me, even children often have to remind their parental guardian(s) how amazing they truly are.

"The Extraordinary Ordinary" tackles different standpoints of how we see parents portrayed. To me, I always felt that to be realistic, where parents are supportive while others are not. As we see with our main character, ERICA, she leans heavily on her father, ROB (played by John Posey), as she and her mother, CATHY (played by Della Lisi Kerr), disagree on multiple life matters. But in reality, someone such as CATHY is actually in a lot of pain herself and is unaware of it. For me, growing up I saw how much my parents were impacted by the decisions of their parents, and it sort of becomes a cycle, until it is broken. I think in my family, in this case, it is getting help by going to counseling and doing the work to not repeat the sins of our parents.

Aside from success, what do you genuinely want to accomplish with your films moving forward, Natalie?

For me, the ultimate dream is to make an audience feel something after they watch a film. The most impactful thing a creator can do is to get their audience thinking, whether they agree or disagree with something that was said or done in the film. That is something I hope my work can continue (to do) in the years to come. To me, success is all about being content - not the glitz and glam aspect - but hoping your audience sees the passion in the work and feels that way, too.

Heartwarming and relatable, cute little indie film. Very well paced and edited. I thought the cinematography had a very grounded look and feel. I loved the use of negative framing. I think the movie did a good job at understanding its budget and letting it play to its advantage. Good directing and handling of the actors. Who all do a good job with the material. Bonus points for raising Mental Health awareness too!

I know the people in this movie. And the actors the Extraordinary Ordinary made me feel like I knew them as well. We all deal with life's traumas in different ways, but in the end we are not an island - we need people to help us through. Lead actress Maddison Bullock (Erica) is extraordinarily appealing, and the actors surrounding her are all quite good. In this viewer's opinion, the color is washed out, especially toward the beginning of the movie. This may have been an intentional metaphor, as Erica is leading trying to heal an emotional trauma and sealing herself off from the potential vibrancy of a full life, but if this is the case, it could have been handled differently. Movies are a visual medium after all, and adjusting the color and contrast would have made the film far better looking. That said, this a well done Indie with solid production values, a touching story, and good direction.

This film really hit home for me. Community. Love. So important on the road to recovery. Well done. MUST WATCH INDIE FILM!

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a solid indie drama. The relatable characters (and the acting) helped me connect to the story and experience the film's emotional core that deals with mental health issues. The direction and writing are authentic and makes this a near-perfect young adult-ish drama.

I love how this deals with something as complex and misunderstood as PTSD so beautifully and with a sensitivity it deserves.

There are very few movies which have the ability to do so and this definitely tops the list. It is moving and extremely intriguing to watch it with characters that are so relatable.

This indie gem is a coming of age drama about a young woman Erica who is battling mental health issues while trying to heal the wounds of the past. She finds community in fellow sufferers and begins exploring a new romantic relationship. But the journey to healing is never easy or straightforward.

If you enjoy serious dramas, give this one a go.

This is the story of three college-age young adults who each have their own emotional upheavals to deal with and who become friends. Too many people probably struggle in silence, hiding their pain beneath a quiet exterior as does Erica. Slow moving and with little dialogue at times but is always filled with emotional presence. As this film points out, there are times when those closest to the traumatized individual behave in a way that exacerbates the problem, having tendencies to bring their own baggage into the equation. Very good performances, especially from Maddison Bullock, Alex Montalban, Ana Marte, and John Posey.

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a movie involving several troubled characters and their tragic pasts. It shows the challenges and struggles that people with mental health issues have to deal with within their daily lives but it does it in a relatable and very elegent way. Many of the characters are played like the girl next door which makes them relatable and realistic. I found myself connecting with the movies message because the characters are so down to earth and relatable. It is a different type of coming of age movie compared to what we have seen in the past and that's a good thing because today's world is nothing like the past. So if you're looking for a coming of age drama ripe for today's world, check out this movie.

Beautiful film! Natalie Rodriguez delivers a poignant and important drama. The Extraordinary Ordinary is an original and subtle take on mental health issues and a possible path to recovery. The human struggle is powerfully conveyed by the cast, particularly John Posey and Maddison Bullock.

Great Direction, acting and editing! Amazed me how such a complex subject like PTSD addressed so simple way and keeping audience engaged at the same time.

The Extraordinary Ordinary is a heartwarming indie about young people coping with mental health issues. I was drawn in by the film festival accolades and found the movie to be a worthwhile watch myself. The story concerns a student who moves to Southern California for a new beginning and discovers that she is not alone in her mental health challenges. The film is raw look at trauma, love, recovery, and community within this social circle and it feels like an authentic glimpse into real life circumstances as well.

A lot of people are dealing with mental health issues and this movie did a fine job in bringing awareness to this problem. Great movie!

It´s about three young people and their struggles. On one hand, they seem normal and pursue their goals. On the other, they struggle with personal issues and the movie explores these issues quite well. Especially bipolar disorder.

It´s a very relevant film, taken our current crises with Covid-19 into consideration. Bipolar disorder is a subject that needs to me discussed more openly in the public domain. Especially now, while so many people have got their lives turned upside down.

I strongly recommend this movie... a big thumps up to the actors and crew.

I know people who deal with PTSD and bi-polar conditions. It's a daily struggle, yet so very human. This film does an amazing job of capturing that complex reality. Not by glossing over things or giving these characters a Hollywood treatment. But by showing them in a candid, mature, yet heartfelt way. It's all incredibly relatable, even to those of us lucky enough not to struggle with such difficult mental health issues. On top of all that, this is a really well made and acted film. And oh so affecting.

You will experience what people go thru every day with tragic experiences, mental issues in this movie. Done gracefully and with great acting. Check it out for yourself.

Writer/Director Natalie Rodriguez has tapped into the residual trauma of PTSD in this excellent indie. Lead actress Maddison Bullock shows a lot of depth and emotion with very little dialogue, a sign of a rising star. In lesser hands, this movie would have been over written and over acted. A great film for those interested in a drama dealing with depression, PTSD, and mental health.