Who Are You People

Was so surprised to find these complex characters in this very real dilemma. Acting was outstanding. It's a drama really firmly grounded not only by the performances but every level of direction from locations & costumes to music choices. It's nice to see human stories with no real agenda, no epic effects, just real emotion and carefully crafted story beats. There are so many unexpected moments in this film. There's real heart in every scene and so many layers to each of these characters. The exploration of the grey areas in life, the darkness most people avoid, the complexity of issues and relationships - all of it expertly told.

I didn't know anything about this movie. I just clicked on it out of boredom. I was pleasantly surprised by how immersive it was. Nothing is pushed on the viewer so you have a lot to think about when you analyse situations and relationships. The only push I felt was something I already try to use in my life and that is the importance of trying to understand. Not condemning or condoning, but just to understand, because we are humans and we are supposed to be capable of understanding.

I can't say anything bad about any actors performance. Casting was just perfect. I have to say that I was surprised by the only actress I recognised, Alyssa Milano. I haven't seen(remember) much of her work but watching her as a host on Project Runway Allstars turned me off. Here, her acting perfectly filled the role.

Alex (Ema Horvath) is a rebellious disconnected 16 year old in Portland. She looks at a picture of her family and asks the title question. She has no friends at school and only one at a different school. After an inappropriate incident with her teacher, she finds a letter in her mother (Alyssa Milano)'s desk. Her father is not her biological father and she sets off to find her missing parent (Devon Sawa).

Most of the time, I complain about older actors playing teenagers. In this case, I don't mind Ema being in her late 20's. This movie is uncomfortable enough as it is. I put most of the awkwardness down to a clueless know-it-all teen lead character. It's not the fun coming-of-age film that it probably wants to be. It can't be due to the subject matter. The reveal is pretty obvious early on. At least, it's not a surprise to any alert viewer. There are a few needed changes. Mostly, it needs to darken the tone of the movie. Whether it's the music score or the few attempted jokes, this movie needs to clip those out. This is only going to work if it's dark.

Casually pulled in this one to watch - what a score!

Such an amazing movie! Depth of script and characters - along with proper direction and photography.

It does not hesitate to explore unpleasant family topics, family taboos, and desire to repair the past so that it can move forward. I found that the actors casting have shown synergies and likely the highest contributing factor of delight. Ema's character which is central to the story - is pivotal to discover each others character's depth and contribution.

Likely this movie will to the liking of people with some and diverse life-experience - especially coming from families with dysfunctions and strong emotional dynamics.

Thank you for enriching us!

What a fantastic, thought-provoking movie. We accidentally discovered this on steaming last weekend and I'm so glad we did. It's so refreshing to watch filmmakers who still aren't afraid to take risks. This one does does - and it definitely pays off. I'd highly recommend this film to anyone looking for a rewarding movie-watching experience. The acting is great and so is the script and directing. The characters feel real and the story is totally engaging. Ema Horvath is phenomenal as the lead. She delivers the kind of fearless performance so rarely seen these days. Do yourself a favor and be sure to check it out!