I have rarely come across a piece of drama that examines the life of a family coping with mental illness in such a fair and even-handed way, and without an overdose of histrionics or melodrama. I speak with considerable knowledge when I say that this film accurately and sensitively portrays the sometimes co-dependent relationship between a mother and her caring young son. This is a film to watch if you really want to understand what a young carer is, or if you really want to understand all sides of the debate around such families. Meredith Baxter captures the physical and emotional nuances of a sufferer of mental illness who still has her faculties at the same time, and Keegan Macintosh nails the part of the kid who has to be flexible enough to cope with any situation that arises, whilst retaining some childhood. You'll want to comfort Baxter's Margaret Gibson, and you'll want to hug Macintosh's Aaron. This film will leave you re-examining things you thought you understood.
Review of For the Love of Aaron
