Joshua (Jonathan Erwin) sits in a diner writing a story, the story of Mallory (Tammy Sanow), drinking coffee and eating pancakes. As he dives deeper and deeper into his story he realizes that what he’s put down on the page has far more meaning than what he initially believed that it would. He’s changing lives, manipulating reality, and connecting to people in ways that he never thought possible. Rewriting Mallory is a tall task, and it gives Joshua so much power. But the power that he harnesses doesn’t just belong to him, it belongs to all of us.
While Rewriting Mallory plays with magical realism and even some science fiction, the message that it conveys to viewers is so simple, so easy to access. It’s important that viewers be able to access this film about life, that they be able to see themselves in the narrative and make connections to the characters on screen. That’s an easy feat for viewers–as they are able to see themselves in both Mallory and Joshua. Writer Malcolm Vanderwoude and Director Emerson Adams take this a step further, however, and they include bits of science fiction that could potentially derail the narrative and separate viewers from the film’s content. Yet, this team finds a balance that appeals to viewers rather than divides them–and that’s a delicate balance that not everyone can pull off.
Adams uses intimacy to bring her film to life, to dig deep into emotion, and to appeal to her viewers. From the opening moments she uses the camera to ensure that viewers are able to understand every instance throughout the course of Rewriting Mallory. Her understanding of this artform and human emotion allows the film to reach viewers from the opening moments, and the use of the camera, thanks to her expertise and Director of Photography Vy Tran’s talent, emotion rises to the surface early and often.
At the heart of Rewriting Mallory is a message about the power of words and of human connection. This is what ultimately connected me to the film. I love every minute of this film, but the emotional relevance strewn throughout this film heightens its relevance and my attachment to it.
I’m at a point in my life where it seems like I can never catch a break, where there’s a new obstacle around every corner. Just as the dust begins to settle, just as it feels like the struggles that have befallen me seem to have moved aside, five more things rear their ugly heads. I watched Rewriting Mallory at the best possible time, at a time when every word seemed to mean something to me–but I don’t think that viewers have to be in the same emotional state as me in order to appreciate the sentiment present in the film. Rewriting Mallory is emotionally draining, and it remains this way from start to finish as a result of the connection it’s able to make with its viewers.
Rewriting Mallory hits hard emotionally, and technically the film is sound as well. I could use more color and a little more emotion from some of the actors along the way–but what Adams is able to create with her team overall is nothing short of wonderful. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and her knowledge translates well to Rewriting Mallory, a film that will capture the hearts of viewers everywhere.
Directed by Emerson Adams.
Written by Malcolm Vanderwoude.
Starring Jonathan Erwin, Tamara Sanow, Lucy Borchers, Timothy Cox, Bryson Schultz, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
