This movie was well written. The acting was extremely good. This movie won't serve most people because it doesn't have aliens, gangsters, monsters, zombies, or a major crisis that needs to be averted.
The backdrop isn't the predictable NYC nor any other major city. The characters are average people. No high profile, rich, and powerful careers. This film was about a woman struggling with indifference, regret, guilt, and shame. She harbored anger for the way her mother treated her. Now, she's coming to grips that she treated her own daughter just as harshly.
Mom went to a retreat to reconnect to an inner peace. Emotions were brought to the surface that we're dormant for so long. I know a few women that act just like the mom did here - played by Jennifer Connelly. The daughter, played by Alice Englert was equally impressive. She also wrote and directed the movie at the whopping age of 28.
A great story about people suffering but trying to do their best. Some may say it's a movie about a mother and daughter dealing with mental health issues. Perhaps. However, I saw it more as two women dealing with their past while contemplating how they want their futures to look so the pain inflicted onto them doesn't continue getting projected onto others. It's in the present moments when they become aware how they've been hurt and have hurt the ones who matter the most. The scars are deep. How does one forgive for the healing to begin?
This film captured real struggles every day people internalize. The dialog was very authentic. This is real life family interaction.
I'm not sure audiences can handle common people doing typical things, wrestling with their own sufferings without an alien invasions, car chases, espionage, monsters, tragedy, overcoming extreme odds, or radical shootouts.
You see, it's the audience that's most basic in their own thoughts, feelings, and actions that prevents them from seeing and appreciating the depths of this marvelous presentation.
