WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
A place of total, utter, unfathomable hopelessness. To find oneself in such a state of being as to believe there is absolutely no possible way out. In this place devoid of aspiration and ambition, there seems only one solution to escape from it all. Such is the place a young woman, Alix (Christine Conger), finds herself when on the other side of a pill bottle. In the aftermath of her existence-ending attempt, she recounts the path of life to a Counselor (Mark DeBoer), trying to grasp memories and images which have some semblance of meaning to her, seeking to understand the “why’s”, and to feel any sense of worth in it all.
Battling the complexities of striving to be an artist, yet experiencing a block in her expressiveness and vision, fighting against her mother Nancy (Susan Rienzo) and fledgling step-father George (Thomas I. Hall), plus an unwillingness to see her self-worth as even present, new faces begin to enter her life, trying to be voices of encouragement, including friends Kevin (Reavis Dorsey), Rick (Cecil Laird), and Lacey (Skylar Shelley). But even as these new influences start cracking the surface of Alix’s pain and resentment, giving her a glimpse of the elusive hope she’s desperate to attain, one more critical choice looms that will fundamentally decide her future, happiness, and inner peace.
Next, my Mind:
Let’s just say it like it is–suicide will never be a subject, in itself, that is easy to address, talk about, or see portrayed on screen, nor should it be. As it is a truly legitimate issue that needs voices of support to aid in its prevention and listening ears to help those heading towards that dark place, writer/director Chiara Farina’s 20+ minute short film delves deeply, poignantly, mildly surrealistically, and full-on emotionally into its lead character’s inner storms with a very sobering and sometimes subdued tone and mood that befits the narrative, yet doesn’t in any way sacrifice the message conveyed. Very well filmed, with both lightly fantastical and real-world imagery in play, the story moves along swiftly and with serious intention, presenting the hard realities and psychological strife Alix faces.
Actress Christine Conger truly brings an amazing sense of human depth to her role as Alix, so vividly portraying a soul that has been in such a harrowing, wretched condition, that hope seems like a thing forever lost, and with no initial signs of true redemption. Her ongoing battle with the various stages of this grief-filled actuality only makes the times she has true joy even more potent. Solid supporting turns are provided from DeBoer as Alix’s Counselor, trying to break through to a hardened heart, Rienzo as a concerned and doting mother, Hall as an overbearing, though ideally well-intentioned step-father, and Dorsey, Laird, and Shelley as those points of light who desire nothing more than to be there for their hurting friend and see her come around back to vibrancy and joy.
In total, “Iris” is not only another fantastic example of indie film magic, but it stands as a necessary project to bring further awareness to the plight of those who are in that place of emptiness and so urgently and intensely need someone to come alongside them, listen, and be made aware that love, hope, and joy are still available to them and that life is greatly worth fighting for.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
