User reviews

We were lucky enough to see the world premier of "Unpacking" in October of 2022, and we were truly blown away. The film has the perfect balance of gravity and levity, and just the right mix of drama and laugh-out-loud moments. It's so refreshing to see dynamic, complex portrayals of female characters - and so well acted, as well. The making of the film is fascinating in and of itself, and the organic and spontaneous nature of the production is evident in the natural feel and effortless flow of the film. I'm thrilled that the film has been doing so well - deservedly so - and can't wait to see what else the team creates in the future!

As a 30-something woman, I deeply relate to so many of the issues brought up in this film, and I appreciated how direct & authentic the script brought out real life scenarios. I also found it so endearing and comedic - awkward and silly in some parts, and hilariously accurate to the less than perfect moments we all face in life. All emotions wrapped up into an hour and a half. Great acting, and I loved the soundtrack! I was lucky enough to see this on the big screen for their world premiere showing! I look forward to seeing these faces and names in future features - and I wish the whole team, cast & crew, wildly successful careers in the film industry!!

Such a great experience watching this film! I thought it was going to be a mindless "female" oriented film. It was so much more. The writing, acting, filming, all were terrific and the scenery was glorious!

The characters were deeply thought out, and the issues they brought with them to Bali could be identified easily through out our society. Divorce, motherhood, emotional pain, trauma, all were treated with great compassion.

We watch a lot of television on Netflix and Prime and this film is as good as any of them and better than some.

I hope this film is available to anyone who enjoys comedy, but so much more!

Congratulations to all.

I really enjoyed watching this film and could relate to the jouney the actors were going through. The storyline was compelling and gripping. I hope to see more from this group! The multi layered script unfolds in a fun and frivolous way the both entertains and relates. Bali was a beautiful place to create the movie, and it really makes me want to visit. I have never been to a retreat, but the radical transformation that these women went through during this film was amazing. The interlocking storylines between the different characters in the movie kept me engaged throughout. I can't wait to see more from this group!

The journey of five women and their instructor at a retreat in Bali lends to authenticity, vulnerability, kindness and eventually non-judgementalness. Funny, pognant, relatable and not to be missed - a film with heart, these women with different personalities and different challenges open themselves to group experiences and share, what as individuals each held to be secrets that held each captive to shame. A not to be missed film that encapsulates the power of friendship and honesty, love, courage and understanding, as six strangers, along with two others, accept the flaws in themselves and others and learn to love each other.

Unpacking is a film that stays with you long after it has ended. 6 young women head to Bali for a retreat with an instagram guru. Their experiences there are not what the viewer imagines they would be. It is a film full of emotion that also has a lot of comedic moments.

Bali is a beautiful country but the Balinese we encounter in the film are like people everywhere - full of their own self-interest as well as desiring to perform their jobs of assisting the retreat leader. The women on retreat come for different reasons that are revealed over the course of the film. Though the film mainly features young woman, anybody of any age or sex will find this film entertaining and poignant.

The script is great and the acting and directing are excellent.

If you love Rollercoasters You will Love this Movie.

For something that was just a small budget Film shot within 13 days; kudos!

Worth watching, always captivating and entertaining but also realistically inspiring.

This is Cinema worthy especially if they actually distribute it into Indonesian Market then it will be packed with Line ups at the Indonesian Cinemas.

Awesome casts and disturbingly deliciously Funny ASF.

Face Your Demons are definitely the most powerful description for this movie.

Waiting forward to seeing the sequel to this hopefully

I'll rate it 10/10 because...

I feel like I was Living it and it has some hilarious moments and never boring at least.

A novel look at facing change and the truth. This film pulls back the curtain on what it's like to be looking for something inside yourself and entering an uncharted life chapter. With others who are doing the same thing. In Bali. On a spiritual retreat that's nothing like these women expect. Hilarious and emotional, their authentic desires and anxieties come together in a unique story that I related to from my own past struggles. Highly recommend to anyone feeling like they don't belong in their story anymore and are riding the wave of the unknown. A must see! The special effects, design and art direction are especially fantastic.

When we got ready to see Unpacking, I thought, "Another indie chick flick." About 12 minutes into the film, I realized - This is Good, I want to find out where this movie goes.

The cast is practically all American women, the story is about human beings searching for connection and meaning. The location, centered in a large house in Bali, serves to isolate and focus the plot. The score evokes the exotic setting as it enhances the narrative.

There is no time wasted in this tightly scripted gem. The story is fully developed and satisfyingly told in under 90 minutes, refreshing in this era of long films. Unpacking is a drama with a healthy dose of comedy. The characters are sculpted, three dimensional individuals, their motivations and interactions ring true.

The strongest impression that remains with me is the realness of the characters, their individual flavors of vulnerability, self-doubt, and strength. I want to know what happens to each of them.

I loved this movie-the characters are so relatable in their beautiful messiness. The intimacy of the script and camera work really drew me in. It also does this amazing thing: manages to show vulnerability, deeply emotional processes and be hilarious.

The characters are well developed and so well-acted; I definitely felt like I went on a journey with them My 16 yr old son and husband came to see this movie with me and found it relatable as well- no pigeonholing this movie as a chick flick!

I so hope this movie can be available for more folks to see and for me to see again.

As another reviewed said it is a the antidote to toxic positivity and cynicism. I couldn't agree more.

"Unpacking" is moving and engaging, with powerful performances all around. The worlds of these women intersect and interconnect, and it doesn't take you long to feel as if you know them all personally. Everybody, watching this film, whether male or female, is likely to find something in these characters' stories to identify and connect with. Each of them is on a journey--the ones running the retreat every bit as much as the ones attending it--and you never know just where it's going to go. It's expertly written and directed, and the cast make a great ensemble with marvelous interactive chemistry. Check it out.

Viewed at The Magnolia Independent Film Festival in Starkville, Mississippi. UNPACKING was the featured film on the second night of the festival and was an enormous hit with the audience. A plot summary might scare off the casual viewer with its tale of six women who travel to Bali for a retreat with a guru spouting self-help cliches, but surprises abound in this entertaining, nuanced, and touching tale about modern women having to negotiate the challenges of love, family, friendship, and self-worth. Directors Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott have a light touch, using tongue-in-cheek humor to spoof the oh-so-mockable world of mindfulness and self-help ("I'm going to guide you back to a pure, womb-like state before the world told you to hate yourself"). But this is no mockumentary style take down. Instead, you get three-dimensional portraits of women who are all struggling with their lives -- divorce, infidelity, loneliness are just some of the challenges. The score by Mitchell Manburg, featuring a lilting woman's voice flitting up and down the scale, is terrific, reminding me of the a capella work by Toby Twining. Filmed entirely in Bali in a mere two weeks, the cinematography is breathtaking without making it a movie with pretty locations and nothing else. And the cast -- well, it's flawless, with nary a false note and lots of pungent dialogue to keep things afloat ("I'm an immigration lawyer, I don't sleep with escorts!"). I was particularly taken by Katie Braden, who brings a vulnerability and tenderness to the role of Alice that reminded me of a quirky combination of Julianne Moore and Allison Janney. In summary, this was such a lovely surprise and I wish the team of filmmakers the best as they travel the festival circuit in search of a good distribution deal. Seeing how there is so much mediocre fare on streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, Apple+, Paramount+, and Hulu, I won't be surprised when this shows up on one of those channels and becomes a hit with viewers around the world. It deserves such a fate.

If ever a movie needed to be made, this one did. There are but a handful of movies that I can honestly say have caused such a strong emotional impact on me personally such as Steel Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes, Wild, and Under The Tuscan Sun, now this movie will be added to my list. It is an insightful film that dives into the heart and soul of every modern-day woman, even if she never wants to admit it. However, Unpacking it is also a quirky film driven by modern day real life and its unsettling oddness very much like the TV series White Lotus. I give this movie ten out of ten stars because I enjoyed it so much on every level.

Unpacking is a story about six women who go to a retreat in Bali led by a self-proclaimed guru who promises a new radical treatment that will change their lives. The movie begins as we meet these women with their very real problems. Like many of us they are caught up in their own personal bubbles and are just trying to find a way out. As the movie progresses the guru takes them through quirky, unconventional, and extremely comical forms of therapy. The characters begin to dive deeper into their troubled lives, the lightheartedness takes a sudden turn, and the real heart of each woman's problems surfaces. Honesty and truth along with secrets and lies bubble forth and these women must learn to trust each other as they bare their souls. Even the self-proclaimed guru finds it difficult to keep her own mask on, and though her ideas are well intended, her facade is laid open.

Alexandra Clayton, Joseph Schollaert, and Michal Sinnott's script is on point, yet it is also the acting which brings the film to life making you feel each character's pain as being very real. I believe that anyone who sees this movie can identify with at least one, if not all of the characters and their soul searching. Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott not only wrote the script together but also directed the movie and play main characters. I feel they should be commended for their accurate portrayal of our society, the failures, and the accomplishments of our society as a whole. Even the side characters with their points of view blend well into the storyline giving it a full and rounded feeling that you are getting the full picture. Though this movie is also a comedy, there are some serious moments, and I think there is a nice balance between the two.

The cinematography is beautiful, taking full advantage of the Bali location where the movie is filmed. I won't tell you the ending, but I will say that under those particular circumstances of the storyline, the ending is perfect, and exactly how it would, and should be.

Unpacking is one of those feel-good movies which leaves a subtle aftertaste lingering for a long while, making your brain suck on the thoughts over and over again.

J L Mulvihill.

Such a great film all around! It boasts an Incredible cast and story line, and the writing/directing is both powerful and clever ...It had me lol'ing more than once and I must say the editing just tied it all into a gorgeous epic picture. Oh! And then I must not forget the gorgeous setting of Bali and how magical it is to watch the film set there... I certainly will be sharing it with many friends once it is out in the screening world! Also I must add - I am in awe of the all female team and just how collaborative their efforts were. What an inspiration for artists everywhere! Brava, Brava, Brava!!!!

This film isn't just another chick flick - it is so emotionally rich and heartfelt! From the get-go, the upbeat music and fun colorful graphics set the tone for the movie. Each of the six main characters has their own separate arch - with funny, emotional, and wholesome moments throughout the film. The mask scenes were wild - and I loved them... it really showed how, even in an unconventional format, these women who had just met each other days before, could open themselves up to be challenged and supported by one another. Overall, such a great movie - congratulations to all cast and crew involved! You guys put your hearts into Unpacking, and it shows. I really hope to see your names elsewhere.

The movie is great! Unique, and entertaining to show off a new "culture desire" in which you can escape the norms of life on a retreat, but what are you really escaping? The movie draws you in with beautiful settings, feels real examples of people going out of their norm to be vulnerable together for mental health.

The music was awesome! It felt like I was there at some points. I cried and felt connected to the movie at others. The actresses were great! Not one character was annoying in their role and out of touch with the world. It was unexpected to see the character development pan out the way it did.

The set was always looking so sharp and interesting. My favorite part was the bugs and the water in the big plant.

Congratulations to the staff involved, I can tell this film included a lot of love behind the scenes.

Six women embark on a retreat with expectations of finding inner peace and transforming into some ideal version of themselves. Unpacking explores the awkward and painful reality of self-discovery and change each character experiences on this journey. The characters are all so authentic and complex. I found myself wanting to know more about each of the characters.

Unpacking is beautifully written. The acting is fantastic and the views of Bali are breathtaking. Overall, it is a beautiful representation of strong women and the importance of friendship, love, and courage. Charming, hilarious, heartfelt, and not to be missed!

This film is a fascinating and super enjoyable ensemble piece!

With a mix of storylines woven together, there's plenty of levity and laughter to be had even while exploring trickier topics- it's a beautiful balance of being entertaining and introspective!

If you love seeing women's stories represented on screen, this is a great one to check out.

The entire cast is riveting. Several standout performances and lots of comedic moments really bring it all together. The cinematography is gorgeous and this collective really pulled off an amazing feat with the backstory of if they made this film.

Def worth a watch.

Words cant describe how much I loved watching this! Literally every aspect of the movie was perfect from the beginning to end, seeing the character progression throughout the film left me wanting more (also in dire need of a sequel to see how everyone turned out!) As a guy I can 110% fully, confidently and happily say this movie is for everyone. Seeing each of the girls journeys and learning about some of their past was such a joy to watch and can have any viewer easily relate to some of the challenges each character faces and what they go through to improve themselves. The film left a viewer like me inspired and I can't say enough good things about this, amazing job all around ladies!

This is a very enjoyable film. I felt I could identify with parts of each of the 5 women, and the workshop leader as well. The script doesn't shy away from creating complex characters with all the contradictions and struggles of real life people. It's concise and moving, and beautiful to watch.

I think it must be difficult for a film to rise above the noise with all the mounds of "content" being created these days but this film deserves to be seen! The fact that the filmmakers work together as a collective is also quite inspiring to me. I'm sure they had their moments but the end product is beautifully done.

This film blew me away. I won't summarize the plot, which many other reviewers here have done very well, but instead I want to speak to how strange and refreshing it felt to watch a movie that exudes female energy from the inside out.

So many movies about and for women are "chick flicks," which are born of a foundationally male system that's trying to market to women. While I might get the occasional laugh or tear watching a chick flick, those movies have never really spoken to me, or given me the sense of complexity that real people live with. On the other side of the stick are the many, many films that are incredible, rich, complex, deep, and typically feel very masculine somehow, even when they feature great female characters.

This is something different. The narrative arc is not a hero's journey. There isn't really a 3-act structure (I don't think so anyway, after one viewing). It floats and weaves, the emotions from one character bleeding into another. There's a very long argument to be had about *why* this very different style of story-telling feels gendered to me, but for now, I'll just say that this movie feels female from the inside out.

I was curious to get to the credits, and was delighted to see a mix of genders in the collective who created this fantastic film. So, although it would be easy to pigeonhole this movie into one made for women, the project gives me hope that we can all help each other tell our own authentic, complex, and messy stories, even when we're coming from different places.

All of this, AND I genuinely laughed out loud at least ten times? (For me that's a lot of laughter!) AND the acting is great?? AND the movie was set and shot beautifully?!? This one is a winner in my book. Can't wait to see more from this talented group of people. I sincerely hope it gets distribution so more people get to watch it!

Oh what a wonderful movie for all people. Each woman brings a real life issue to this small beautiful island of Bali to present to a Guru. They know it's a retreat and agree to the terms asked because for each the issues they know so many others in this world can and do have the same questions without answers.

As the film progresses they learn and grow with love-tears-anger and just every emotion as a one and as a whole unit of women looking for answers.

In the audience I felt myself being filled with warmth because one of them had the same challenge in life as I and she was smiling from the inside. Yes I am a single mother of three and surely not alone.

Thank you Unpacking.

This film was beautifully written and produced! It is layered with character complexities, and executed in such a way where you can both laugh at what's happening and feel the cringe of relatability. The honesty of each character comes through the brilliant acting. It almost feels like it was written for each person individually, but flows well together as a collective story. Clearly a lot of heart went into this film each step of the way. And as a viewer, you not only see it but feel that really deeply. I definitely recommend this film to anyone looking for a good laugh mixed with some tears and everything in between.

"Unpacking" is a very moving and engaging movie. It was fun and entertaining to get to know each of the characters, and to watch them interact with each other and with the people they meet in Bali. Both men and women are likely to find something in these characters' stories to identify and connect with. Each of the characters is on a journey, and the viewer never knows just where it's going to go. The shots that show the beauty of Bali were quite lovely. The writing and direction were superb, and kudos to Ms. Clayton for a movie that will appeal to all genders and adults of all ages. I heartily recommend the movie!

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and it was a joy to watch. I found all of the retreat women were portrayed in a way that was real, relatable and authentic and their vulnerability made it easy to connect with each one of their stories.

All the women at the retreat was struggling with a different issue and visiting the retreat for a different reason but all of them were relatable and treated with support and compassion. It was empowering to see them all come to terms with what they are battling, find common ground, support each other, have their own break through moments and start to heal.

The Bali setting and scenery was absolutely gorgeous and captured so well in the beautiful cinematography.