April 28 2013 – The debilitating effects of mental illness, if left untreated, can have a devastating effect on both family and friends alike. Families suffering through this, hope for the best treatment and a cure for their loved ones. But, what if the treatment never comes? This is the unsettling premise playing out in the powerful film, Baby Half Lie.
Amanda (Asha Bromfield) arrives home to find the apartment door left ajar, a new born baby boy on the floor and the living room in disarray. The dark and dishevelled room reveals the remnant of her troubled mother Maya (Samantha Kaine), sitting in wait as Amanda tries to make sense of Maya’s latest break from reality. Accusations of infidelity and rape escalate as the severely unstable Maya, deep in the throes of post-partum psychosis, up ends her entire family again before being admitted to the hospital. Amanda takes the lead, forcing her step-father Greg (Arnold Pinnock) to finally confront Maya’s illness head on.
Actor, Samantha Kaine’s gritty, glassy eyed performance elevated the narrative to dizzying heights of credibility. Walking the fine line between immersion and over the top, she exudes conviction from her opening scene when she says, ‘Am I a good mother . . . Amanda?’ as she sits passively in her own squalor, quietly simmering with rage until the hospital locks her down for the night. Writer /Director, Kimberly Miller-Pryce has penned and executed a compelling and engrossing short film worthy of a full length treatment. The psychological carnage that resonates on film touches every character through raw emotion.
Verdict 4 / 5: This smartly paced drama exposes the debilitating effects of mental illness in a straight forward and poignant manner. Director, Kimberly Miller-Pryce shares a compelling storyline that conveys a deep understanding of a troubled family’s dynamics which is underpinned by wonderful performances. You will find no fluff or filler in this tightly wound, issue driven story.
Talking about mental illness is the first step.
Genre: Drama
Category: Short Film
Country: Canada
Language: English
Run Time: 12 minutes
Director: Kimberly Miller-Pryce
Writer: Kimberly Miller-Pryce
Producer: Tara Woodbury
Cast: Asha Bromfield, Samantha Kaine, Arnold Pinnock, Barbara Radecki, Spencer Maybee, Niguel Sutton.
