Review for

"IT WAS ALWAYS ME"
A Review By Katia Steffan
Rating: Above Average; 3.5/5.0

Written/Directed: Amit Vaidya Starring: Farhad Khan as Karim, Eliza Doushku as Marissa, Brendan Sexton as Dylan, Marla Sokolov as Danica Running Time: 132 Minutes Presented by Amidya Films

Films are meant to be visual interpretations of the world, our thoughts, and our beliefs. Yet rarely are films able to manage the task of inviting the audience in on the journey and justly providing insight and enough room for them to deduce things on their own. I applaud films like IT WAS ALWAYS ME for trying the bold and to some extent succeeding.

IT WAS ALWAYS ME is the rare American film that feels more like a foreign film yet it doesn't seemed forced. Under the highly inventive eye of newcomer Amit Vaidya, the film looks at hard issues like suicide, depression and love through the eyes of its three lead characters Marissa (an understated performance by Dushku), Karim (new find Khan), and Dylan (underrated Sexton). The film walks the fine line of a French arts fantasy and the dark American independent drama.

Visually, the film is stunning. The music and the creative use of colour are standouts in particular. The dialogue is equally satisfying and manages to capture the 'realness' of its characters. Yet, that is where the problem lies for the film. In attempt to capitalize on 'realness', it is hard not to think that the film could have done with the bells and whistles which while completely satisfying on their own, seem to be covering up something. I have yet to figure out what left me removed from the film. Perhaps it was my lack of preparation for seeing something I'd never seen before. After working in the filmline and watching thousands of films, it's rare to find a unique picture. When you stumble upon one like IT WAS ALWAYS ME, it leaves you so enthralled that you have nowhere to go but down. Thus, the film, despite its powerful message and wonderful creativity falters. This is a film I will be watching many times over before perhaps a less wish-washy review would be possible.

The one clear matter that is certain for me is that Vaidya is the true winner of the project. As the screenwriter and director, Vaidya has shown incredible maturity and depth for his debut picture. It wouldn't surprise me to see his name follow the ranks of such brilliant filmmakers as Tim Burton, Peter Weir, Baz Luhrmann and Sam Mendes. For his first film to provide this type of comparison, it's at least worth a viewing.

Thus, my rating is 3.5/5 (above average).

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