Mad

When Mel has a nervous breakdown, it's up to her two grown daughters to take her in. But rather than provide a loving environment, the sisters engage in some bitter war games where the biggest casualty could very well be their own mother. It takes a masterful storyteller to be able to utilize humor the way director Robert G. Putka does here, and there is no shortage of laughs in this bone-deep drama. But the jokes and moments serve a higher purpose. With top-notch acting (Maryann Plunkett as Mel is well worth the price of admission) and some deft direction, this character-driven film mixes situational humor with real heart as a way to provide much needed balance between what is uncomfortable and what is real. MAD provides a unique voice to those moments in our lives when all we want to do is get away, but all we can do is stay with those who promise mutual assured destruction. (Cleveland International Film Festival)