A Light Beneath Their Feet (2016)

A Light Beneath Their Feet Poster

A high school senior must choose between enrolling at the college of her dreams and remaining at home to take care of her bipolar mother.

Introduction
"A Light Beneath Their Feet" is an emotionally charged indie drama launched in 2016. It's directed by Valerie Weiss and written by Moira McMahon. The film showcases a powerful performance from Taryn Manning (Orange is The New Black) who depicts a mother battling with bipolar affective disorder, along with Madison Davenport (Shameless), her devoted teenage child making tough choices for her future.

Plot Overview
The story focuses around high school senior Beth (Madison Davenport), who remains in the throes of making decisions about her life after graduation. Unlike her peers, her choices are substantially complicated by her mother Gloria's (Taryn Manning) battle with bipolar disorder. Beth finds herself torn between attending her dream college, the University of California, or staying regional to take care of her unsteady mom.

In an emotionally nuanced performance by Manning, Gloria is depicted in her low and high, displaying the unpredictability of life with bipolar illness. This portrayal underscores Beth's function reversal issue as she straddles the line in between child and caretaker, juggling adult responsibilities while trying to live a regular teenage life.

Character Development
Throughout the film, we witness Beth's internal struggle and ultimate commitment to her mother. Encapsulating the essence of an ordinary teenager with a remarkable problem, Davenport shows a fully grown efficiency. Gloria's character, meanwhile, evokes compassion and understanding thanks to the empathetic treatment by the filmmakers and Manning's soul-stirring performance.

Popular Themes
"A Light Beneath Their Feet" explains teenage life and mental disorder with great level of sensitivity. A substantial style of the movie is the juxtaposition of young Beth's responsibilities against her mother's obstacles, clarifying role reversal and the effect of mental disorder on family dynamics.

Furthermore, the film offers an informative exploration into the constraints and pressures of love, responsibility, and dedication. It attends to the sacrifices one might need to make when somebody they deeply like is strained with mental instability.

Conclusion and Reception
In the end, Beth picks to attend a regional college and remains to support her mother, capturing the essence of self-sacrifice and the complexities of familial love. The film got positive evaluations for its realistic representation of bipolar affective disorder and the sacrifices required of those supporting the affected. Critics applauded the efficiencies of Manning and Davenport, who brought nuance and emotional depth to their functions.

"A Light Beneath Their Feet" is more than a teenager or mental health movie. It's a movie about love, obligation, and sacrifice. It magnificently catches the intricacies and obstacles that featured mental illness without romanticizing or oversimplifying them. This indie drama serves as a poignant tip of the typically neglected battles of those coping with mentally ill family members, and the hard decisions they must make.

Top Cast