WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
Disconnection. Detachment. Estrangement. Words usually not associated with anything favorable, they can hold an even deeper and damaging intent when applied with the concept of divorce. What once was a unit, tight-knit, blended together as a family in a moment can be shaken to the core. With this sudden and painful realization upon you, how is it you move forward? How is it to surmise what comes next? For one young girl (Abigail Spitler), this is the harsh reality she faces sitting across from her now separating parents (Timothy J. Cox & Sara Ruth Blake), even as the words so often heard with such an announcement, “It’s not that we don’t love you. We just don’t love each other”, ring out.
From this proclamation, with a look of complete and utter, though well hidden, sadness and heartbreak, the girl begins a journey of recollection. Considering the way things were at the start–carefree, happy, filled with moments of pure elation–in watching her parents interact, illustrating the affection they had for one another, the memories slowly but surely begin to paint a bleaker picture, as she then beholds her father’s wandering eyes, associated demeanor, and closeness with her mother slipping away. Soon, all the treasured time as a family begins to shatter, becoming harder and harder to maintain any sense of connection with her parents, much less as the arguing arises, signaling the breaking of a bond. Out of this musing–one aching word emits.
Next, my Mind:
In four short minutes, writer/director/cinematographer/editor Sophie Peters-Wilson breaks your heart and puts a potently candid exclamation point on the theme of divorce, even more specifically on the all-to-often forgotten actuality of how it affects the ones who find themselves stuck in the middle–children. Beautiful cinematography so acutely captures every little nuance, facial expression, and emotion this young girl is experiencing, both in the present and throughout the time of remembrance she finds herself embracing. With dialogue that is sometimes heard and other times intentionally muted while the entire narrative is accompanied via “It’s Lonely Around People (Teen Daze Remix)” by Mountain Range, the sheer power of watching a cherished familial relationship come apart through the daughter’s eyes drives the story to its inevitable, but no less poignant, finale.
Just the other day I was commenting on how much this reviewer always enjoys the strongly character-driven efforts of one Timothy J. Cox and here again, he does not disappoint, even if more a supporting role this time around. Able to so effectively play the “everyman”, watching Cox take this character through his paces by showcasing a slow decent into infidelity so realistically and with an almost understated ease is pure artistic mastery. Likewise, Blake’s mother is equally affecting as the doting caregiver, devoted wife, and homemaker who’s suddenly confronted with an ugly, agonizing truth that severs the sacred union and puts her at odds with not just him, but to an extent, her daughter. Finally, however, the ultimate credit must be given to Spitler as said daughter, granting us a simple, innocent, yet so keenly executed performance that just shakes your heart and makes you feel every little joy and anguish she faces as the story unfolds.
Overall, as is the case with so many indie film efforts, “It’s Not You” is both quality filmmaking but also a needed wake-up call to this world when it comes to a society that, quite frankly, has made divorce far too easy to pursue and go through with. If anything, it is this style of tale that should be used as a reminder that if you really want to see the price divorce so recurrently carries–view it through the perspective of the child whose world is coming apart.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
