Bereft (2004)

Another good Showtime movie

This is a story about a woman in morning and suppressed rage over her husband's death. Molly behaves in an odd way, due to the fact that she can't deal with his demise. She also gets involved with people she wouldn't have if she was in her right mind. It's a story of grief and despair. It's well written and the woman playing Molly was believable in her part.I recommend seeing this movie. August 5, 2006

Nice work, Tim Daly!

This well-crafted indie film depicts a young widow during her first year without her husband, who was killed in a tragic accident. Set in the Vermont countryside, the film uses visual and verbal metaphors to good effect, as well as subtle humor and irony.

We watch Molly's anger and pain build below the surface while the people around her try to smooth everything over and push her into "moving on." Her problem-drinker father declares them "one big happy family" on an occasion when they obviously are not; her mother is delighted to imagine she has begun dating again; a friend in the supermarket exclaims, with visible relief, "I knew you'd bounce back!"

All the while, using a variety of photographic media, Molly frantically tries to capture what is impermanent. One of the meanings of the word "bereft" is "robbed," and her symbolic efforts to get back what has been stolen from her escalate alarmingly as the movie goes on. This is definitely not a feel-good movie, but ultimately a turning point arrives which causes the truth to be acknowledged openly and, implicitly, the process of forgiveness and making amends to begin. April 14, 2006

Tim Daly's Directorial Debut

Tim Daly and Clark Mathis have made a beautiful, funny, intruiging movie about grief. Sounds crazy but they did it. It is a fantastic first effort for Daly and a movie that always keeps you guessing without being pretentous. You will love it. Great performances from a terrific cast. November 17, 2005

Unusual, startling but hardly great

I don't share the same enthusiasm as the other reviewers for this little movie. However, I would say it is the best film portrayal of a woman with mental illness since Robert Altman's "Images" from 1972, when Suzanna York gave the best portrayal of mental illness in cinematic history.

Molly's problems in this movie stem from her husband's death but they go far deeper and are more five-by-five than one dimensional. You don't really see the totality of her ailment until late in the film, when her mental illness is apparent.

This is a good flick, sure, but not an outstanding one in my opinion. It's worth a look for its signature portrayal of mental ilness, though.

Showtime made another film for cable that is more aggressive in its portrayal and subject matter than this one called "The Mudge Boy". If you watched "Bereft" on Showtime, search your guide to see the other one, which apparently is not yet available on DVD. November 14, 2005

One of the best indie films I've seen in a while!

I am so glad I was lucky enough to come across this film. It is beautifully done--both the music and the the scenic shots of this small town in Vermont. The story itself was just as amazing and quickly draws you in to discover more about what has happened to Molly. I wish there were more films like this one! October 18, 2005

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