What If It Works?

There's much to admire about 'What if it works'. Romi Trower has written and directed a very personal and at times confronting drama which has a few lighter moments to humanise and ease the pain that is being depicted so beautifully by her actors. Essentially this is a two hander, even though it has a welcome comeback for Kaarin Fairfax (a terrific and all too absent actor from our screens) and features several supporting and incidental characters.

An unlikely pairing of an OCD with a Multiple Personality Disorder makes for an interesting set of quirks and traumas alike, with Luke Ford and Anna Samson truly inhabiting their challenging roles. Luke Ford is a terrific actor (an award winner for 'Black Balloon' nearly a decade ago, and Anna Samson is a revelation for me here, as I was unfamiliar with her work. There is something intrinsically likable about Luke; he seems to be drawn to damaged or challenged figures, but he brings huge warmth and heart to 'Adrian'. It is to be sure, an overly mannered performance, and depending on whether a viewer can appreciate both the condition that the actor is portraying as well as the fact that he is an actor bringing the script to life, this may be too heightened a performance, but he won me over.

Anna Samson has an equally difficult challenge; set of challenges with multiple personalities to explore and portray with a point of difference for each one. Her range is impressive and I look forward to seeing more major films for this actress.

There is a sweetness to 'What if it works' that kept me connected; even when I was a little distanced by the self conscious style of a number of the performances. It is not an easy tightrope to walk in bringing mental illness and conditions as debilitating as these, yet still making a narrative that is palatable for audiences. I hope this film finds an audience, as it is very hope-filled and sincere in its wish to take some stigma out of illness, and replace it with life and love and positivity.

Exciting bursting color, well placed movement, music enhance the visual delight of this film in inner urban settings.

Modern life, chaos, beauty, challenge, different ways of being.

Romi Trower and her talented Crew have given us a gift, a sweet wonder of a film speaking to us about love, pain and discovery. Adrian (Luke Ford)takes us with him on his journey. We care, we want Adrian to succeed. We want to understand. Grace (Anna Samson) brings her character to us in a reality we begin to comprehend as the film unfolds. The marvelous Cast Actors support and enhance our understanding with empathy, subtle, generous acting.

Dr Di Scaala(Karen Fairfax) works as a sensitive device to allow us to engage in the challenges our heroes face in their quest.

Didn't want the film to end, there was much to see, enjoy, learn, contemplate and at the same time, entertain.

The mark of a good film? It leaves you with something. "What if it works" leaves you with so much. You'll always remember this film.

2017, how was this 2017?

The way mental illness is depicted in this lemon is staggering. Luke Ford's portrayal of OCD should be offensive to ALL. Also Melbourne looks like a dirty place.

Media representation for D. I. D. Is staggeringly awful and almost always increases misunderstanding and stigma. This movie is not only the most accurate representation I've seen of my disorder, it's also a really good movie. As a writer, I can say that they executed the elements of story in a way that was moving and beautiful. Without giving away spoilers, there aren't easy answers given. It's realistic but hopeful. I loved it and stayed up late replaying it in my mind.

This film tells the story of a man with OCD and a woman with multiple personality disorder.

There's always a danger of making fun of psychiatric issues in a comedy dealing with psychiatry. Fortunately, this film treads the fine line well, and delivers laughs without being insensitive. It even tells the pain of having such mental health problems, and the stress of being a carer. It is a delightful romantic comedy, and I enjoyed watching it.