Una vita normale

A delicate subject. And a decent manner to use it. Good performances. Moving plot. The basic obstacle - schizophrenya . If it is not only a word for the viewer, he knows and understands more. If not, it remains a dramatic family story , about two sisters and a profound hard fight . and, maybe, this is the best part - to be a convincing film about family.

I watched this film with great interest as my family has had to endure the ups and downs that this illness entails. It's now 20 odd years later for us and we still struggle with the issues.

The one person in this film I identify strongly with is Baby's mother, through the line: "How did Mom do it all the years?" or words to that effect. Thanks Lifetime for trying to highlight the issues faced by all persons affected by this sad and debilitating illness.

We live in a different part of the world to the US but the emotions, situations, decisions, etc. are all frighteningly the same. My heart goes out to those affected; but even if you are not affected, still watch this movie because odds are you probably already know someone who is and you can help by showing empathy.

This is a realistic moving and well written movie about schizophrenia anchored by two fine performances. Tammy Blanchard is totally convincing as a mentally ill person in an illuminating follow up to her more sensational "Sybil" performance. Kristin Davis is sympathetic as her sister who cares for her after the death of their mother. She is good in her dramatic role and shows she can take on more serious movies.

The characters are well rounded and refreshing in their caring and limitations especially the financially pressed husband and sympathetic son.

It is worthwhile to watch this for the portrayal of the emotional, financial and practical hardships of looking after a family member with mental issues.

My niece has schizophrenia and, at times, I felt like I was seeing her on my screen. The acting in this was perfect, from the flat affect when the medication is causing that sluggish, underwater feeling to the terror and confusion when a psychotic episode hits. My niece also sits and smokes during most of her days but we are thankful she is no longer tormented by voices or terrifying hallucinations.

Other fine points from the film are that Baby's mother was shown as caring and loving. The old, false, belief that schizophrenia is caused by bad parenting, or traumatic events, still lurks in some minds and it's good when a movie helps people learn that it is, in fact, a brain disease, like Alzheimers or Parkinsons and no one is to blame.

The well sister, Billie, is also realistically portrayed and points out the problems when young family members have to deal with the ill person.

My only wish would have been to place more emphasis on the costs. Medication can easily cost a thousand dollars per month and private residential care can be over $200,000 a year. Only the very wealthy can afford the nice ones.

This is a terrible disease, the number one disabler of young people and something that strikes the young and lasts for fifty years or more. That's a long time to be trapped in a nightmare, unsure about what is real and what isn't. We need to find a cure.

After their mother suffers a massive coronary, working mom Kristin Davis (as "Billie" Clark) takes over as caregiver for her mentally ill sister Tammy Blanchard (as Elizabeth "Baby" Davis). The smart schizophrenic woman moves in with Ms. Davis, handsome husband Joel Gretsch (as Rick), cute teen son Alexander "Alex" Le Bas (as Davis) and outspoken pre-teen daughter Mackenzie Aladjem (as Mollie). At first, the family manages to get along with only a few problems. Smoking is only allowed on the porch, for example. However, some increasingly bizarre outbursts from Ms. Blanchard take their toll on big sister Davis and others. The sisters have unresolved problems to deal with, and new issues threaten and disrupt the family in unexpected ways...

There are so many movies wherein mentally challenged people are portrayed as either lovable pets or homicidal maniacs, it's nice to see something more realistic. Carefully directed by Jim O'Hanlon and nicely written by Richard Friedenberg, this "Lifetime" TV Movie is one of their best. The key performance is delivered sensitively by Ms. Blanchard, who surprisingly did not receive an Emmy Award nomination. There is a small role for lovable Louise Fletcher and everyone is fine, with young Le Bas quite a surprise as the loner son who identifies with Blanchard. If there is one regret, it's that this family is unusually wealthy. Their jaw-dropping estate and ranch look like a show-places and it's difficult to believe they don't have the money to hire some professional help.

******* Of Two Minds (3/10/12) Jim O'Hanlon ~ Tammy Blanchard, Kristin Davis, Alexander Le Bas, Joel Gretsch