The Edge of Her Mind Anthology

Let start this review off right: I truly enjoyed this film. The vignettes of challenges and emotional trickbags often faced by women were spot-on, and filled my thoughts with the often vague intricacies of femininity, relationships, and what often goes on in the deeper recesses of a woman's mind. And the episodic approach works well, given the context of the film. It's rare to find an anthology that isn't related to horror/suspense, much less to find any independent film that is as enjoyable as "The Edge of Her Mind". Each snippet was well-done, and there is nothing to criticize about the technical aspects of the film - everything is just right. This is often not the case with independent movies. And it's not just the production quality that impressed me, but also the quality of the acting, writing and direction. All were to-notch, with too many great talents to mention individually. In the movie Titanic, Rose said "A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets", and that's a beautiful, heartfelt, funny, and terrifying thing for women to reconcile, but even more so for men. Having been married to my bestest best friend ever for nearly 20 years, I know this to be an absolute truth, and this film explores some of the deep wellspring found within the mind and soul of every woman. Watch this film with your significant other, and I guarantee there will be some truly insightful and enlightening conversations afterward. Highly recommended.

Anthology films are usually a mixed bag (I should know, I contributed to one). Edge of Her Mind is a rare case where each episode is amazing in its own way. The situations and emotions always ring true, whether it's heart wrenching drama, or ebullient comedy. The performances are strong across the board. I almost hesitate to mention it, because these are women-focused stories, but Lance Henriksen gives one of the best performances of his career. The writing and directing are excellent. And though the budget probably wasn't large, the production value was quite good. One small note, and maybe it was just an issue watching it on my system, but the closed captions on Tubi were way out of sync. Enough so that it was distracting. Other than that, I loved this film!

With a variety of POVs and cinematic styles, it's one of the most dynamic and refreshing anthologies you will see this decade. If you want the talent of Sundance but would rather sit at home, out of the snow and take in the groundbreaking messages in your pajamas, watch Edge of Her Mind. If you are a woman, if you know a woman or if you've ever come into the vicinity of a woman, you might get something out of it. The personal standouts for me were Abundance Cafe, Uncertainship and especially Fragile Storm. Talk about subjects that I will probably think about 8 years later or films that can change the way you think about humanity. Don't skip out on this one.

Every short film in this anthology comes from a very personal place, and as a result, every single one is universal in its appeal and relatability. This anthology creates a space for exploring women's mental health and at the same time, it is watchable for men too, who will be able to find parallels with their own experiences and see that none of us are really that different from each other.

My personal favourites were "Over The Moon" and "Fragile Storm." There is something in this anthology for everyone.

Great work to all involved.

All these short films depict women and situations of mental illness that we don't get to witness and we should. Yes, it can be painful but necessary. It takes us out of our own little safe bubble. All films are masterfully written, directed and performed. .