Good Side of Bad (2023)

See original review on One Film Fan

First, theRecap:

The shattering of what we strive to maintain as reality. It is certainly truthful to state that most, if not all, of us have experienced moments of genuine mental stress. Regardless of what might be the cause, the sheer unsettledness, the pressure that weighs upon us is a tangible force that CAN seem insurmountable. However, more often than not, this is only a temporary , one we can come through and simply move on from. However, what if this condition wasn’t so brief, but instead ALL we knew?

For a young photographer named Florence (Lexi Simonsen), existing each day, even just enduring each moment she is awake and attempting to function, is nothing short of a monumental task. Having to face the actualities of a severe mental ailment which consistently upends her perception of what’s real and what’s not, the most recent emergence of this places her back into the care of her older sister Sara (Jules Bruff) and brother Peter (Alex Quijano), sending them all on a stormy but necessary journey of healing, learning, acceptance, and a long dormant familial bond.

Next, myMind:

As with many other subject matters the world of film chooses to address, especially amidst the independent ranks, mental health awareness, raising due concern in relation to it, the importance of acknowledging it, and calls for us to be far more consistently mindful about it plus the requisite care those afflicted truly need with genuine compassion and understanding is paramount to this critic. Hence, it is why I was greatly anticipating how this 96-minute feature film, which made its North American debut as an Opening Night selection at the 2023Dances With Films Film Festivaland then available to rent or own viaApple TVas of 01/07/2025, would choose to address this ongoing and compelling issue. The long and short…we are given a highly persuasive, intensely emotional, candidly relevant, and deeply credible portrait of one particular illness, its ramifications, and the fervent power of selfless love, necessary reconciliation, and finding inner peace.

Based on the book “The Good Side of Bad” by authorBeverly Olevinand brilliantly brought to life by writer/director/producerAlethea Root, writerCiera Danielle, writer/producerJules Bruff, producersMark David,Connie Jo Sechrist,Katie Von Till, and Jenny Napier, co-producersMyles Grier, Roseanna Stanley, John G. Root,John Kennedy,Veera Mahajan,Beth Von Till,Stephen F. Von Till,Andrew Goodwillie, andCatherine Goodwillie, plus executive producerCameo Wood, this is once more an example of why independent cinema is THE bastion of HUMAN stories that bring vital topics to us in order that we might never forget just how critical it is to keep such things fresh in our minds and ideally spur us to action because of it. I always applaud efforts like this as such, especially when executed with excellence as is the case here.