“Sinha’s script is wonderful and weaves together their stories as they work to support each other, fight with each other, and make each other laugh. Sinha adapted the screenplay from her own play of the same name. Much of it, including Samira’s backstory, is very autobiographical. She is using her art to help process her own trauma and that’s quite powerful.
Happy Place is director Helen Shaver’s first feature film after a long career both in front of and behind the camera on TV (including directing episodes of Westworld, Snowpiercer, and Lovecraft Country just this year). It may be her first, but it will not be her last, Happy Place is too well constructed for that.”
“As the creator, writer, and as one of the principle actors of this feature length film, Pamela is the triple threat that was needed to bring this story to this medium, so that as many people as possible can benefit from it’s visceral depiction of Suicide Survival, Depression, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).”
Our very own Samira, Clark Backo, sits down with Pamela Mala Sinha and Helen Shaver for an important and open conversation.
“Backo is in almost every scene and displays a remarkable range of emotions. Her dark eyes mirror her agony and dislocation. The actor is capable of displaying great vulnerability ranging to the tensile strength that tells us that she will finally find some degree of contentment.”
“What makes this film a solid one is its lack of interest in healing its characters. Or at least, it shows that healing in less conventional ways.”
“Shaver does precise work, enveloping the ward in a play of light and shadow and softness, which is interesting considering how tough they have had to be.”