Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Camilla Belle | ... | Isabel Wallace | |
Dominic Rains | ... | Dr. Benjamin Calhoun | |
Summer Phoenix | ... | Beatrice Price | |
Nicole Starrett | ... | Matron Phoebe Stokes | |
James Franco | ... | Edward Fry | |
Carmen Argenziano | ... | Dr. Withers | |
Kai Lennox | ... | The Chairman | |
Jennifer Daley | ... | Kara | |
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Nina Ljeti | ... | Ethel |
Jacquie Barnbrook | ... | Helga | |
Lisa Goodman | ... | Griselda | |
Lori Jean Wilson | ... | Deirdre (as Lori Wilson) | |
Alison Lees-Taylor | ... | Mary | |
Chantal Nchako | ... | Silla | |
Caige Coulter | ... | Rebecca |
The film takes place in the late nineteenth century. Benjamin Calhoun is a doctor at a psychiatric clinic who observes that standard treatments do not help his patients. Ice therapy, leeches and isolation do not give a positive result, and he decides to come up with a new way to help the sick. So the doctor begins staging the play "Moby Dick" in the women's department. One of the roles is received by his patient Isabelle Wallace. She is the wife of a senior official and claims to be completely healthy. According to the woman, she is in this medical institution on the orders of her husband. Written by Peter-Patrick76 (peter-patrick@mail.com)
Shot in 2017, this film never received a theatrical release... only to be seen by the public on Blu-ray in 2019. It is a shame it didn't get a bigger audience, because this experimental film, which had nine directors and eight writers, is a real triumph. Set in a late-1800's asylum, the female patients are tasked with putting on a production of "Moby Dick" as a means of therapy. Camilla Belle delivers one of the best performances of the year as Isabel, an unjustly committed inmate cast in the lead role of Ishmael. James Franco also performs nicely in a very small role. This is a perfect example of a hidden gem.