She may take part in actioners like Olympus Has Fallen and Oblivion and high-profile drama such as Prisoners, but Melissa Leo still carves out time to return to her independent roots. Her latest is Bottled Up, the second feature from writer/director Enid Zentelis, which premiered at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Leo takes the role of Fay, a quiet small business owner living in a quiet town in the Hudson River Valley, burdened with a pill-addicted daughter named Sylvie (Marin Ireland) and a relatively uninteresting life. All of that changes when Becket (Josh Hamilton) enters, a determined, naive environmentalist looking for a room to rent.
We said in our Tribeca review, that “while the romantic tangent of the film — not unlike the environmental subplot — never fully takes shape, it’s a relatively small criticism thanks to the fully-formed characters Zentelis and her actors have created. Above all else, Bottled Up explores three very human people and how they will get past all of the lies they are telling themselves. Zentelis chooses not to judge those on screen, but rather try and understand them. It’s this honesty of character that forgives the film a few narrative dead ends and botched comedic beats. We care about these people, and that’s of the utmost importance.” Check out the trailer below.
In this modern day drama, Oscar-winner Melissa Leo beautifully conveys the heart-wrenching struggle that comes with love and addiction, while also lightheartedly depicting a woman rediscovering romance. She plays hopelessly hopeful Faye, mother to Sylvie (Marin Ireland) who, many months after a car accident, continues to complain of back pain. After refusing physical therapy, it becomes clear to everyone but Faye that her daughter is addicted to pain killers. When earnest environmentalist Beckett (Josh Hamilton) moves to town, Faye quickly befriends him, hoping that he will be the solution to Sylvie’s problems. As Beckett finds himself further intertwined in their lives, he inadvertently helps Faye realize the depth of her family’s problem, even as he brings a touch of happiness. Before too long Faye’s hand is forced, and she must decide whether to protect her daughter or find the happiness that she has long denied herself.
Bottled Up hits VOD on February 28th, followed by a theatrical release.