“The film may be unpleasant to anyone with a history of sadness and anxiety,” reads the opening line of A Mouthful of Air. Anyone would find the tale of a young mother burdened by crippling thoughts of inadequacy distressing, but that doesn’t necessarily make it interesting. Even with a convincingly frail and unmoored Amanda Seyfried at its heart. The drama frequently hindered by an instructive sensibility that gives it the look of a feature-length PSA. However, it is not without cinematic touches and affecting, even horrifying moments.
Julie, played by Seyfried, is a children’s book author who resides in Manhattan with her husband Ethan and their little son Teddy. Ethan appears to be an architect based on glimpses of a drafting table and what appear to be blueprints. But like practically every other character in the film. He serves mostly as Julie’s satellite and the actor does his best to bring nuance to the role. The flat of the couple so garishly candy-colored that something wrong. They are not: Julie is recovering from a failed suicide attempt when the major action starts. And she has gotten good at hiding her injured wrists with carefully arranged scarves and bangles.
Fact Why Julie Tried Suicide
The fact that Julie had even tried suicide is not immediately obvious, much as the reasons for her separation from her father, which are mostly shown in color-filtered, herky-jerky flashbacks, are never entirely explained. Also unknown are Ethan’s profession. And the reason Lucy scolds Julie harshly during their first meeting at the hospital following her nearly fatal accident. “A Mouthful of Air” frequently has the impression that important narrative parts have deleted. It leads to a disappointing lack of substance that made worse by the slow pace of the story.
Main Focus Of Koppelman’s Film
The primary focus of Koppelman’s film is on Julie, a wealthy young mother who struggles with postpartum depression. Whether she is with her children alone, interacting with her understanding mother socializing with other ladies at a backyard party, or spending time with Ethan. Seyfried’s big eyes, which Ethan frequently looks into to assess his wife’s situation, beautifully capture how Julie’s stability and sense of self-worth might change at any time.
“A Mouthful of Air” compassionately considers Julie’s experience as she attempts to navigate a world. And a life of responsibilities, doubts, and fears that are frequently overwhelming. Julie’s worst thoughts and impulses easily triggered by a flurry of everyday sights. And sounds while at the grocery store or an offhand remark about breastfeeding.
Complexities Of Julie And Ethan’s Relationship
Seyfried and Wittrock express the developing complexities of Julie and Ethan’s relationship through short glances. And passive-aggressive remarks, which serve as the spark for the movie’s final catastrophe. However, Koppelman skips over most of her plot points. Such as Julie’s difficult upbringing, a late argument over her decision to stop taking her medication after the birth of her second child. And the dramatic revelation about what happened to her decades later. She also only gives us a few fleeting scenes with Carpenter, Paul Giamatti, Britt Robertson, and Josh Hamilton, reducing their roles to glorified cameos.
The movie too influenced to touch viewers’ hearts, preferring to imply rather than show or tell. This is especially true of the film’s many animated scenes from Julie’s children’s book. And dialogues about it, which aim to create viewers cry in an alienating way.
