A mother deals with the threat of loss amidst the promise of life
Some things people prepare for. A soldier goes off to war, and they are trained to deal with all that could happen to them. Some things are left up to us. A soldier goes off to war, and those left behind have no idea what to do. In Drowning, the fraught nature of this situation is explored with bracing honesty amidst a carefully curated aesthetic.
Melora Walters not only stars in this Southern California drama but also writes and directs. Her portrayal of a mom in crisis is visceral and heartfelt. It might not be so much a crisis but more the anticipation of a crisis to come.
The movie opens with Charlie (Sergio Rizzuto) heading off to Iraq during the the Obama years. Rose (Walters) is left on her own, or so she feels. Frank (Gil Bellows) is her professorial companion, and his semi-caustic nature belies a true love for Rose, though he struggles seeing her unable to live her life while her son is away in harm’s way.
The rest of her circle supports her as best they can. Mary (Mira Sorvino) is all brittle elegance, running the bookstore Rose works at while fighting her own battles. Henry (a belligerently funny Jay Mohr) is going to teach Rose to swim, dammit, even if it takes all year.
Filmed in eight days in January in Los Angeles, the atmosphere feels like Seattle or Sweden, with clouds and rain to spare. It’s a fantastic use of an overused location, making the center of the entertainment industry seem new and fresh.
Walters is herself an artist, and the film is teeming with gorgeous paintings and other works of art. It’s a subtle but profound choice, and makes this tale of heartbreak and anxiety a beautiful if not necessarily joyous experience.
Propped up by tremendous performances and a spare script that lets the situation speak for itself, Drowning is a small movie with big ambitions. The love of a mother demands nothing less.
