A Riveting Tale of Resilience and Bonds

Read Time:3 Minute, 21 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Heightened
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Genre: Comedy
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director(s): Sara Friedman
Writer(s): Sara Friedman
Cast: Sara Friedman, Dave Register, Sarah Clarke, Mike Mitchell, Xander Berkeley, Moira Driscoll, Dipti Mehta, Jessica Cadden Osborne, Jody McColman, Richard Sewell
Where To Watch: available streaming October 1, 2024; premiered June 23, 2023, at Dances with Film

RAVING REVIEW: If you’re in the Los Angeles area on June 23, 2023, I highly recommend checking out this screening; tickets are available above. I would love to have seen this on the big screen! Sara Friedman has launched herself into the cinematic cosmos with her debut directorial feature, aptly named HEIGHTENED. Adhering to storytelling from multiple angles – screenwriter, director, and star – Friedman infuses a distinctive vitality into the narrative.

HEIGHTENED dares to explore the nooks and crannies of the human emotional expanse, magnifying mental health facets such as anxiety and borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s raw honesty and directness break down the walls separating the cinematic world from our own, spotlighting the tumultuous ebb and flow of experiences surrounding mental health. Each frame of the film is a testament to Friedman’s comprehensive understanding of mental health’s many layers, granting HEIGHTENED an irresistible magnetism that lures viewers into its depths.

The film’s texture might echo a television production for fleeting moments, but these instances barely graze HEIGHTENED’s compelling narrative. Any minor hiccups are instantly overtaken by the film’s riveting storyline, drawing audiences into the whirlpool of its characters’ lives. The authentic charm of HEIGHTENED lies in its resonance with those wrestling with mental health challenges. The film attacks mental health head-on and doesn’t stigmatize it while still showing the battles one has to overcome.

Diving into HEIGHTENED’s narrative, we meet Nora, a character Friedman tackles to near perfection. Nora’s world gets flipped when she returns to her childhood home in Maine after experiencing mental health struggle. This crucial shift in Nora’s journey occurs when she suffers a panic attack during her bar exam. In this setting, therapy sessions and tense family dynamics further fan the flames of her struggles. The silver lining to her story comes from her volunteer work at the state park. Here, she grows close to Dave Register (Dusty) and learns about his battles that he hasn’t come to terms with yet. This revelation motivates her to aid him in his bigger dreams. Their intertwined journey stitches together a captivating tapestry of bonds, personal ambitions, coping tactics, and more. Adding a dash of conflict to the mix is Dusty’s clashes with Mitch (Mike Mitchell,) who makes Dusty’s every struggle that much harder to overcome. Sarah Clarke (Susan) and Xander Berkeley (Gordon) depict Nora’s distant parents, who only exacerbate her struggles.

In line with the director’s vision, HEIGHTENED is a detailed exploration into the hidden universes of two individuals wrestling with their battles and the monsters of mental health. The film strives to provide a genuine depiction of the experiences of those living with anxiety, unveiling the threads of humor that often get woven into these struggles. HEIGHTENED juxtaposes life’s shadows and highlights, emphasizing the power of human bonds to serve as anchors in our battles.

Behind the scenes, Friedman has carefully ensured gender balance in her crew. She has passionately advocated for including women and minorities in areas traditionally dominated by a singular demographic. HEIGHTENED stands tall as evidence of the depth and vibrancy a diverse cast and crew can infuse into a project. Each member’s unique life experiences play a pivotal role in sculpting a multi-layered and insightful representation of anxiety that plays out on the grand canvas of the silver screen.

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[photo courtesy of CUT 4 PRODUCTIONS]