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.

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!

It's hard to watch a movie when you don't care much for the main character. I believe she is portrayed much too unreachable, like she's passed the "point of no return". Though I appreciate the journey written for her, the character shows not even subtle signs of a desire to grow or change. So in a sense, the film then becomes quite static and unattractive, and predictable even.

What saves the movie for me are the two main supporting characters. Catherine Kresge does an amazing job in this film. Very real, very believable performance. Her character feels human, not robotic like her sister (which unfortunately leads to a non-believable relationship between them). She will most likely be moving on to bigger and better things. Alexis Rhee gives a very dramatic performance, filled with much needed intense moments helping to "stir the soup".

I think this film would have been much better as a short. Too much "looping" going on, with no real movement of the main arc until the very end.