Writer and director Alex Heller does an impeccably impressive job considering that she is a debut filmmaker with her first motion picture titled, “The Year Between” which follows the life of a twenty-year-old woman dealing with bipolar disorder named Clemence. In the first act of “The Year Between” she relocates to her parent’s small town in Illinois, gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and begins her aimless journey of learning how to balance her life through medication and other life choices. For the majority of the movie, which Heller describes as set in the Midwestern part of the United States, Clemence lives with various family members, potential new acquaintances, and nostalgic high school friends. The uncertainty in life provides suspense in the film and Heller’s writing satisfies the viewer’s thirst. Even more, the film embraces poignant matters with a touch of humor, making the dialogue in the film inherently, and hilariously funny.
The precision of this movie’s character-based comedy makes sense and becomes even more impressive when the end credits reveal that it’s Heller who plays Clemence. This story has so much love for each of the characters, which stems from emotional wisdom. It is clear that the characters are not merely used as tools, and the characters themselves, even autonomously, oftentimes default to being dysfunctional. This fictional depiction of the world evokes feelings because at the center of it all lies truth.
But the tone suggests that there is some understanding. This is a carefully made film that has its own B.S. detector, which also makes sense when you learn that Heller based this project on her own experiences with mental illness.
Heller utilizes the rhythm of comedy to structure Clemence’s deeply emotional journey. One must note how Clemence’s sardonic wit is more than just quirky it is a heavy layer of protection. It can be both amusing and sad to witness her put on a show when she believes she can use her illness to control someone. She is, without a doubt, full of nuances, and it is more than refreshing to read about her. Heller’s performance is so electric that it makes everything even more admirable.
Clemence goes head to head with her brothers and sisters as she tries to keep the arguments meaningful. The animosity she has with each of her siblings captures what the siblings fear, what lies beneath. Carlin (Emily Robinson) is afraid that she is going to turn into her sister, so she thinks that doing well on the ACT will save her from that. Younger brother Neil, played by Wyatt Oleff, is trying to learn how to assert himself in a combative household. But he’s in the orbit of Clemm, and her condition scares him, as does the question of what it would do to the family.
Supporting roles as Clemence’s father and mother are J. Smith-Cameron and Steve Buscemi. These undoubtedly well-known actors being in this film already feels like a stamp of approval, and they bring such elegance to the script that it is immeasurable what their presence means.
Admired for his humor, Buscemi hilariously tries to connect with Clemence by sharing his experience as a school teacher, only to be shot down. We Smith-Cameron being sweet when she shares yoga as something that helps her life balance. These two also get one of the film’s biggest laughs as they address their kids with Clemence’s condition the elephant in the living room. Buscemi says, You’re winners, and always welcome here, and Smith-Cameron replies, Don’t say that, Don. It isn’t true. And that’s coming from one of the movie’s warmest characters.
While some movies seem to forget about the mental illness aspect completely, then some approach it too seriously. It’s as if Heller thought that “The Year Between” would be this confident dramedy with a screenplay formed out of the fabric and yet incredibly difficult to pull off. If executed perfectly, it becomes evidence of outstanding skill.
To watch more movies visit Fmovies
Also Watch for more movies like:
