Plot
Anna has it all, a loving husband named Mike, and a beautiful son named Tommy. She is on her way to having a novel published.
But when she wakes up from a coma, she discovers she is Jane, and her brother Brady has been by her side every day.
But with no memories of him, or his family, she is desperate to find out where the family she believes she has, is???
Direction
Directed by Jonathan Oster, in his feature film debut.
He provides a brilliant product considering the tight budget and 25 day shooting draft. Oster also wrote the film following the passing of his own father, directed the film prior to the birth of his daughter, and edited the film following her birth.
His use of colouring, lighting, and sound design are all wonderfully done.
Cast
Amelia Barr plays Jane/Anna – who really sells the desperation of a woman who is struggling to find out her true past, and gain the memories those around her tell her is her truth.
Steve Mallers plays Brady, who is the big brother every person should have. He gives a brillianlty heartwarming and heartbreaking performance at times. Great job!
Breakdown
We are introduced to the protagonist of the film Anna. She is a loving mother to Tommy, and has a devoted husband Mike. For the first 20 minutes of the film, we are shown her life, her friends, and that she is on her way to writing her first book (just hope her publisher likes it).
We then cut to her waking up in hospital. She has been in a coma for three months following (what we later discover is a devastating train crash that killed dozens). Her brother Brady, who has been by her side every day races to the hospital when she is awake – but she has no memory of him, and her family are unknown to him! Also, her name isn’t Anna, it’s Jane!
What occurs over the next hour is very well written, as it follows both these siblings – as they try to navigate the next steps. Brady is desperate to get his sister back, and Anna/Jane is desperate to get her family back. The film also slightly gives a ‘are they just gaslighting her’ vibe, as we the audience don’t know the truth either!
Without giving the true ending away – what does transpire is so well put together, and it is a clear testament to the writing of Jon Oster. His own relationship with his own sister is clearly on point here.
I also found it fascinating that the ‘out of sequence’ filming, meant that one very key scene in the last act, was actually shot on the third day of filming. That meant that even though Anna/Jane had lived in her predicament for over six months by this stage, actress Amelia Barr had only been in the head of her for less than a week. Bravo Ameila!!!
The acting by Steve Mallers is also exceptional, and you really do feel his pain, especially during the hospital scene following Anna/Jane’s ‘incident’.
Considering the tight budget, you wouldn’t really know, as some of the sets are used effectively, and Oster’s use of colouring and sound design are flawless.
Overall
A wonderfully written and directed film that shows the true testament of two siblings love for one another.
The performances by Barr and Mallers is simply amazing, and I wish nothing but the best for them both in the future, as well as the director Jon Oster (who I was lucky enough to interview following watching this).
Check out the interview on my podcast and YouTube channel
4.5/5
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