The Premise: Scott (Ben Platt) is finally following his dreams all the way to Paris to become a writer. But the universe is a bitch, and by way of obstacles, Ben’s got a newly dead dad, a mother lost to dementia, and a sister, Cindy (Lola Kirke), who is normally hospitalized with schizophrenia is about to become unhospitalized, unmedicated, and very much Scott’s problem. Is he his sister’s keeper?
The Verdict: Movies about mental illness often flirt with exploitation, and while Cindy’s character, and her plight, do serve her brother’s growth and character arc, Broken Diamonds tries to paint a full picture of an illness that is disruptive and damaging and sometimes just part of the package. Platt and Kirke are both very good, very watchable, and the story benefits from its small scope. Schizophrenia is a family disease. Their family has suffered together, and apart. It has left its members battered. It has demanded sacrifice. Platt is of course very good at showing us the inner turmoil of deciding when enough is enough, but it is Kirke who has the heavy load, allowing Cindy to be a woman who is more than just sick. Emotional but undemonstrative, Broken Diamonds is character-driven and intimate, an interesting exploration of the complicated equation between siblings.
Directed by: Peter Sattler, starring Ben Platt, Lola Kirk, Yvette Nicole Brown; find it July 23rd in theatres and on demand.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
This sounds good, Jay and Sean. It’s hard to get this right since the impacts are both huge and subtle and the people involved are all human beings. It’s great to see you back to blogging. Missed you and hope all is well. 😀
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I’ve never heard of this movie before, but it’s definitely something for me to put on my to-watch list! The way mental illness is portrayed in film interests me and it’s something that’s so rarely done right. 🙂
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Family and pursuing your dream don’t mix very well. Or do they. I’ll try and see this one!
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Mental illness can be hit or miss. Glad this is a hit.
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*on film
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Good lord that’s a lot for one character to deal with.
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I quite like the sound of this one. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll make a note. I’m not sure why people always have to travel either to a remote location in the middle of nowhere or some romantic country like France to be a writer. Is the air different in such places that it sparks your literary genius? xx
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Nice blog!
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