Movie spotlight
Coming to Terms
The story of a young woman, Ellie, as she comes to terms with the fact that she's an alcoholic. Caught in the grips of shame, she's forced to face not only her drinking, but herself. Told from Ellie's intimate perspective, this film portrays just how alienating and defeating suffering in silence can be.
Insights
Plot Summary
Filmmaker Kirsten Johnson embarks on a deeply personal journey to explore the complex and often unspoken relationships between mothers and daughters. Through intimate conversations and archival footage, she grapples with her own family history and the universal challenges of connection, communication, and the passage of time. The documentary offers a raw and honest look at the emotional landscape of family ties.
Critical Reception
Coming to Terms received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth, vulnerability, and masterful storytelling. Critics praised Kirsten Johnson's directorial vision and her ability to create a profoundly intimate viewing experience that resonates with universal themes of family, love, and loss. The film was lauded for its raw honesty and its poignant exploration of the mother-daughter bond.
What Reviewers Say
A deeply personal and affecting exploration of mother-daughter relationships.
Kirsten Johnson's courageous and intimate filmmaking is captivating.
The film offers a poignant meditation on memory, love, and legacy.
Google audience: N/A
Awards & Accolades
Selected for the Sundance Film Festival, 2019.
Fun Fact
The film draws heavily on home video footage and personal archives, blurring the lines between documentary and personal memoir.
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