And Then I Go [DVD]

I'm almost glad that the description of this film didn't reveal much about the plot or I might not have watched it. The brilliant collaboration of actors, directors, a well written script, camera work, and even music are clearly what make this film the gem that it is. In particular, the star, Arman (forgot last name) acts with such authenticity that one feels she's watching a documentary, created by the protagonist, a struggling teen. Arman is not only exquisitely beautiful to watch on camera (and by beautiful I dont just mean the obvious handsome face, but the beauty of his raw emotion), but his ability to draw viewers in is remarkable and rare. The authenticity he brings with him to this film is probably the biggest factor in the success of this film. All the acting is topnotch. The writing is refreshingly realistic, making viewers often uncomfortable sitting in their chairs because we feel as though we're standing in the room with this family as they wrestle through the daily struggles of painful and confusing adolescence. I highly recommend this film. It teaches us all about the complexities of teen depression, lonliness, and bullying, and hopefully in doing so we all become better listeners.

They were both terrific! Flake(Sawyer) that’s my cuz, so I mite be biased, but I think he’s grown so much as an actor and was fantastic in The Kids Are Alright! This was a difficult movie to watch, all the school shootings that have taken place, to see Sawyer get killed, bullied.... a very touchy subject, but overall I thought it was very good, a bit disturbing, but still a good movie!( seems weird saying a movie about school shootings is good)

AND THEN I GO is a movie about a school shooting, but rather than inspiring anger or outrage, I found it deeply sad and though-provoking. There are flaws, but I encourage thoughtful viewers to take a look. The film is seen primarily through the eyes of Edwin (Arman Darbo) a very smart and clearly depressed young man. He’s one of those kids who doesn’t really make friends and doesn’t engage much in school life. Dare I say it, he’s “misunderstood.” (He also endures some pretty nasty bullying.) His parents (Justin Long, Melanie Lynskey) are trying to understand their sullen and angry kid, but they are also clearly frustrated and out of ideas. Dad has resorted to glibness and mockery, and mom is just trying to be placating. There is also a much younger brother, and we see through his reactions to his brother that Edwin is capable of love. And while most of his teachers and school administrators are equally frustrated with him (“you’re a smart kid; why can’t you behave and do your work”), Edwin does find a spark of interest in art class, and his teacher puts him in a group art project with two young ladies who are actually happy to have him on their project because they see his skill. Edwin slowly and reluctantly warms to their casual friendliness and genuine compliments. If all this sounds like I’ve spoiled much of the movie, what I’ve really done is told you about a movie that COULD have happened. An exploration of a young boy growing into manhood and into finding a tentative place for himself in the world. That might have been something like a very low-key EIGHTH GRADE, but for boys. Unfortunately, Edwin has had one friend since he was a little kid. The whip-smart but sociopathic Flake (Sawyer Barth) who has endured similar bullying and a similar sense of disconnection from the world around him. But his parents have lost interest in him and he clearly feels he has nothing to lose when he starts to push back against the forces that he feels are assailing him (and many of them are). Edwin is torn between his ties to his lone friend, and his deep discomfort with the dark places Flake clearly wants to take him. The film is though-provoking because it forces the viewer to examine just how far our sympathies can be pushed. Have these boys been betrayed by the adults in their lives who either don’t see the danger or don’t see how they have failed these kids. But then again, what could the parents be doing better? How far can a school be pushed by bad behavior and acting out? How much should be tolerated? Yet on the other hand, how much should these kids be forced to tolerate themselves? Do we see where this movie concludes as inevitable given all that has gone before…or are these two boys ultimately still monsters (as we would think of them if we just saw a news report with no “background”). And it is sad. Director Vincent Grashaw has not exactly made a briskly paced movie here. Even though it is only 99 minutes, it still feels too long. Many scenes just seem to be repeats of what we’ve seen before. A point is made, and then the same point is made again, and yet again. But thankfully Darbo’s Edwin is amazingly well-rendered. His performance just really made me feel the sadness this character lives with 99.9% of the time (and makes the 0.1% happiness all the more heart-breaking). Aside from the pacing, the film, aside from the two leads, is not terribly well-acted. Long, Linskey and Tony Hale as the principal are the “biggest” names in the film, but their performances feel a bit phoned-in. Likely the director had limited time with his expensive talent and honestly, the script makes these characters a bit cardboard anyway. And for me, the idea of art class being what finally engages Edwin is so clichéd. It’s the trap artists fall into, that only art is redemptive. I appreciated Edwin’s journey (thanks, again, to the actor) but still felt there was a lapse of imagination. Having said all that, on balance, I still very much appreciated this film and the difficult journey it took me through. It isn’t “fun” to see this movie, but it’s got a lot to offer in its sometimes clumsy way.

Part of the pleasure is just watching the boy's acting, the younger one especially. I get bulling and its impact. But the older boy seemed a bit like a vehicle for the movie. Yes, he was bullied, but I never really got why? And yes his dad wasn't the best influence... but really, to want to go out and randomly kill kids at school. I just didn't get how the older boy got to the psychologically troubled state, and then turn to killing as the solution. Now if he were to go to kill the bullies, then I get that.

This is a must see. So profoundly relevant. A perspective not usually seen but so incredibly poignant and important to experience in order to begin to understand the complexity and dichotomy that can lead to such a heartwrenching and devastating event. Brilliantly directed by Vincent Grashaw with magnificent performances by all.

This film follows the young life of a young boy who is alienated from his parents, his school-mates and to some extent from his own feelings. He has only one friend, a slightly older young teen who is seriously mentally ill but has managed to survive and suppress his growing anger at everyone around him. Under this friend's powerful influence, and without a strong moral compass of his own, the protagonist gets caught up in the planning and execution of an attempted school massacre. While unusual, this theme of young teenaged alienation, anger and self-hatred is a common theme in a number of recent films, but I'm not sure this film brings a lot of new insight into the problem. The acting is good, the storyline unfolds with increasing tension and the ending comes with a question mark. Whether or not it carries a clear moral message remains up in the air.

This is a movie parents and children should watch together and talk about, this head on shows the emotions children deal with and what might lead them down the wrong path, interesting and heart wrenching all at the same time, and gave me a better perspective on the issues and emotions kids face today.

I did not like this movie at all.