I had the opportunity to view this movie early to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Over the last few years, mental health is finally starting to be discussed a bit more. That said, we have a LONG way to go. Movies have a tremendous impact on our culture as a whole, so every time a movie that touches on mental health comes out I’m hopeful that it’ll help chip away a bit of the taboo around the topic. And A Mouthful of Air is bound to do just that.
About the Movie:
Julie Davis, warm, kind, loving to her husband and child, is a bestselling children’s author. While her books deal with unlocking childhood fears, she has yet to unlock the dark secret that has haunted her own life. But when her second child is born, events occur that bring that secret to the fore, and with it, a crushing, powerful battle to survive.
What I Thought of the Movie:
I absolutely loved this movie. It broke my heart, and I wanted to reach out and hold Julie {and her husband and her kids, for that matter} but I loved every minute of it. It gave such an honest look into life as a parent with mental health struggles. Julie was exceptionally depressed, more so than most, but I saw myself reflected in some of the less intense moments, like the panic attack at the grocery store.
Julie isn’t just moping around all the time like “depressed” characters often do in movies- she’s playing with her baby, looking for the magic in every day life like balloons and stars, and even creating magical children’s books. But there’s a part of her that she just can’t control and she has to fight to try to overcome her mental health struggles daily.
This movie really was absolutely heartbreaking, but in such an important way. There were times throughout this movie that I found myself holding my breath along and feeling a little bit of the panic that Julie was feeling. While I was lucky enough to not struggle with mental health to the extent that Julie did, I have had my own struggles throughout my life and absolutely saw myself in her.
And that’s the thing- so many of us are like Julie. Hopefully at least most of us aren’t struggling as badly as her, but so many of us have mental health concerns despite loving our families and trying to see the bright side of life. There is only so much that love can do- it wouldn’t cure a physical health issue like diabetes or cancer, and it can’t treat a mental health issue on it’s own either.
This movie is SO important for everyone to watch. Mental health- and especially postpartum mental health- is still very much shushed and ignored even as we make some baby steps toward progress. It’s so hard for those who are suffering to ask for help, and with it being such a misunderstood topic it’s hard for their loved ones to know when to reach out and insist on helping. This movie kind of gives an example {albeit, an extreme one} of what it can really be like to struggle, and what loved ones can look out for.
This movie really did a great job at showing how the people around her reacted to her struggles. Her husband wasn’t sure if he could trust her not to hurt herself every time he left her alone for a few minutes, and her other relationships suffered as well- because they all loved her and didn’t know how to help her or how to help her to help herself.
Should You Watch A Mouthful of Air?
I would highly recommend this movie, whether you’ve dealt with mental illness, loved someone who did, or neither. {Especially because in all likelihood, you probably have had a loved one suffering in silence and you didn’t even know it.} This is the most accurate portrayal of anxiety I’ve ever seen in a movie, and delves into depression and post-partum depression as well. This movie covers so many topics that everyone needs to see.
I do want to add a bit of a trigger warning though {the movie has one as well}- those who are not in a good place with their mental health journey may want to deeply consider whether this is a movie for them at this time. It can make you feel less alone, but it is not particularly an inspirational movie in that regard.
A Mouthful of Air is in theaters TODAY, October 29, 2021. Be sure to also check out the book that inspired it by the same name- buy it here {affiliate link} on Amazon now.
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