Movie Review: The Rest Of Us (2019)

Genre: Drama

Director: Aisling Chin-Yee

Starring: Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, Jodi Balfour

Running Time: 80 minutes

Synopsis: Children's books author Cami Hayes (Heather Graham) and her teenaged daughter Aster (Sophie Nélisse) live in dream house in North Bay, Ontario. Cami's ex-husband dies suddenly, leaving his second wife Rachel (Jodi Balfour) and young daughter Talulah (Abigail Pniowsky) penniless and facing eviction. Cami invites Rachel and Talulah to stay with her and Aster, an awkward arrangement that leads to new dynamics and unexpected revelations.

What Works Well: This is a compact four-character drama with excellent performances, sharp edges, and a penchant for dark humour. Director Aisling Chin-Yee's concise scenes build a milieu for two women and their two daughters to explore present realities through the glare of a wrecked past. The outcome is an organic collision of unmet expectations, Cami confronting behaviour now reflected in her daughter, while Rachel comes to terms with the hospitality of the woman she wronged. Seething resentment threatens to boil over, but affection and understanding also compete for space.

What Does Not Work As Well: The short length demands a lopsided focus on snarky and selfish behaviour at the expense of demonstrated sympathy.  

Conclusion: An enjoyably jagged journey from inflamed hate to informed humanity.



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