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Infinitely Polar Bear TIFF Review (1 Viewer)

Yavin

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Ben Mk
In writer/director Maya Forbes' semi-autobiographical feature debut, Infinitely Polar Bear, Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana play a married couple trying to overcome the obstacles in their life, not the least of which is Ruffalo's character's bi-polar disorder. She leaves him in charge of taking care of their two young daughters while she tries to complete her education so she can provide for their family.

From my review at TIFF:
Set during the late '70s — a time when women were still expected to be stay-at-home moms — much of the film follows the trials and tribulations of chain-smoking Cam Stuart (Ruffalo), a well-meaning man suffering from manic-depressive disorder, as he tries to cope with the demands of being a full-time father to two headstrong daughters, Amelia (Imogene Wolodarsky) and Faith (Ashley Aufderheide). Meanwhile, his wife, Maggie (Saldana), whose decision to leave her family behind in Boston was motivated by Cam's inability to hold down a steady job and their family's impoverished living conditions, hurries to complete her 18-month MBA in New York and return to her family.Mental illness mixed with family dysfunction is hardly a topic ripe for the comedy-drama, but Forbes approaches the subject matter from an affectionately whimsical perspective, infusing the story with a welcome levity that smooths out the rawness of its emotional truth. Her script also treats both Cam and Maggie — characters molded after Forbes' own parents — with equal amounts of compassion, allowing us to empathize with both of them. But the movie's strong suit is its depiction of the heartwarming bond that develops between Cam and his daughters. It's poignant and uplifting, and perhaps it even oversimplifies the family's struggles. But sometimes life's too complicated anyway.
3.5 out of 5.
 

Yavin

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
196
Real Name
Ben Mk
Now that Infinitely Polar Bear has been released theatrically, I've published a more in-depth review.


In short:


In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo play a Guardian of the Galaxy and an Avenger; but in Infinitely Polar Bear, the semi-autobiographical debut feature from writer/director Maya Forbes, they're heroes of a more down-to-earth variety. As Cam and Maggie Stuart, Ruffalo and Saldana play the parents of two young daughters just trying to get by in 1978 Boston. But with Cam's bipolar disorder and his recent nervous breakdown, it's tougher than it looks. So when Maggie enrolls in an 18-month MBA program in New York City, leaving their girls in Cam's care, it proves to be an awkward situation for all. Over time, however, father and daughters learn to make the best of it, and learn a little something about loving each other along the way. The result is a film that tackles serious topics like mental illness and family dysfunction, but in a way that's neither depressing nor overly melodramatic. On the contrary, Infinitely Polar Bear is poignant, funny and uplifting. Yes, you could say it's guilty of oversimplifying the family's hardships. But then again, life's already complicated enough as it is.


Click here to read my full review.


Film rating: 3.5 out of 5
 

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