Life Inside Out

This film is a delight - a lovely, funny, poignant, well made, well written, well acted indie film. Think ONCE but in a traditional family. It is so refreshing to see a story about a woman who isn't in her 20s or 30s and who is empowering herself while still taking care of her family. The music is terrific both from the leads and from the featured musicians. At the showing I attended, there was a talk back and someone commented that, like ONCE, it would make a great stage musical. I concur. This is the kind of film that doesn't get attention from big distributors because nothing blows up and there are no stars. But it's better than much of the blockbuster stuff out there. Run, don't walk.

This sweet film is poignant and true. The script speaks to the heart of most of our families--flawed, struggling, yet enduring. Maggie Baird is illuminating as the mom of three sons, one of whom is a floundering 14 year old who is depressed, sullen, and withdrawn. As she rediscovers an old passion for guitar, singing and song writing, her son, played by her real life son, Phinneas, discovers he, too, is passionate about, and talented as a singer/songwriter. He begins to come out of his shell; he emerges as someone who feels he has value; and he sees and appreciates his mother in ways most 14 year old sons can't.

Through humor and simplicity of story telling, we become a part of this family. We feel their financial struggle. We love the long term marriage of the parents, still so committed, yet winding their way through these muddy middle years. We relate to the sibling relationships. We so deeply feel the anxiety and isolation of adolescence. And when perseverance and unrelenting mother love and support help them both to find their way, our hearts soar with their discoveries.

"Life Inside Out" is a story that anyone can relate to. How far do you take a dream? Laura, the main character, re-discovers an old passion - songwriting, which has previously taken a back seat to raising a large family. But the core of the film is how that pursuit of that dream draws her closer to her family, specifically her moody son. The film lays out characters that act truthfully towards one another in a plot that also strives for realism over showy theatrics and lame movie conventions. The direction by Jill D'Agnenica is calculatedly unobtrusive in its style, yet she draws good performances out of the actors, especially Maggie Baird and David Cowgill. Along the way, there's humor and warmth, making this a "Life" worth examining!

An incredibly beautiful story of a mother, a family, a couple, a misfit teen trying to find his way and the many variations by which love is expressed. This is a movie for even those who don't like this kind of movie. You will laugh and cry, wince at points with the characters as their individual challenges are exposed and you see them more as whole people not just the mask they show the world. This is destined to be a classic, a simple tale on the surface that runs so deep that you can see it a dozen times and still come away with something new.And thru out enjoy the music. The songs are amazing, the acting superb and the story line very realistic. I can't say enough good about it without adding the spoilers I'm trying to avoid. Go. See it. Carry it home in your heart.

Beautiful film which draws you in from the first frame. Maggie is a mom whose daily grind leaves little time to devote to self discovery and fulfilling activities. She is pulled by the demands of making dinner and balancing the budget along with managing the different personalities of her kids, husband and sister. As she notices her high school son struggling, she searches for ways to reach him. Music is the bridge that brings the two of them together and reveals each to the other in a deeper sense. I love that in this film the ending is really a beginning but more than that it is a beautiful testament to selfless love, especially a mother's. The characters in this film were well written and real without being difficult to like--each resonated with me on a soul level. Order this film and get ready to relax with characters who feel like old friends.