With/In (2022)

With/In Poster

An anthology film that centres around relationships, love and family. A man misses his flight and instead finds love in quarantine, a lonely therapist finds companionship in an unwanted pet, two sisters find courage to say things they never had the words to say, and an unexpected packet of sourdough starter has horrifying and hilarious consequences. These are some of the stories captured in WITH/IN, a collection of thirteen films created by actors and their families during the time that changed our lives forever.

Overview
"With/In" is a fascinating anthology movie from 2022, which thinks back the bittersweet experiences of life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how individuals depending upon hope challenge isolation and the unpredictability of existence. The movie is an extraordinary collection of stories directed by recognized and emerging artists alike, including Griffin Dunne, Morgan Spector, Chris Cooper, Maya Singer, and Maryam Keshavarz, primarily shot from the confines of their own homes.

Plot
"With/In" records various vignettes of characters in the heart of the pandemic: while few pursuing human connection, others come to grips with isolation, worry, and losses. Each story in the anthology is unique, showing the directors' personal experience during the lockdown, revealing pressures on relationships, psychological health battles, the diminishing work-life balance, and the fight of their own selves.

Story Highlights
The film begins with a heartstring tugger by Julianne Moore and Don Cheadle, where a dementia-stricken jazz artist and his positive spouse strive to revive music in his life. The following brief displays Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector as a couple destined separate due to her terminal disease and the pandemic lockdown. A standout story introduces us to Arliss Howard wrestling with bitterness and guilt as he deals with the death of his neighbor due to COVID.

The film's 2nd volume reveals Chris Cooper as a guy in his aging spending his lockdown days, striking letters to coronavirus, imitating President Trump's voice. The lockdown heightens the tension and lust amongst a couple who have actually just started dating, remarkably enacted by Rosie Perez and Griffin Dunne. The last narrative is a visual treat with a lovely merge of animation with the story, as a mentally distressed lady attempts to manage her life.

Cast and Crew
The movie boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including several Oscar-winning stars such as Julianne Moore, Chris Cooper, in addition to distinguished artists like Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Rosie Perez, and Arliss Howard. The pandemic allowed eminent industry veterans to blend with new skill in the realm of instructions and story-telling, leading to this mixed bag of poignant, intensely intimate stories.

Styles and Implications
"With/In" dives deep into the human psyche amidst insecurities and fear throughout the lockdown. It carefully examines the concept of isolation and its varied impact on a range of characters, each bring a different burden through the pandemic. It's a relatable anthology that sketches human struggles and durability in face of a crisis, compelling viewers to contemplate their own experiences.

Conclusion
The magnificently woven tales in "With/In" are a testimony to the shared experience of human resilience throughout an international crisis. Critics applaud it for its realization of ordinary seclusion, personal vulnerability, intimate human connection, and the force of strength binding it all. With thoroughly crafted narratives, stirring efficiencies, and great direction, "With/In" serves as an endearing narrative collage catching the raw human emotions throughout the pandemic.

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