I Smile Back (2015)

Women are complex. We men are, by and large, predictable schlubs. Women have endless reserves of empathy, but can also be surprisingly strong and capable. Their minds run deep and when they start to crumble it can be merciless.

Put into a submissive role in society for too long, many women have struggled with their identity and their self-worth. There have been some excellent movies about women on the verge of nervous breakdowns. I can name some devastating performances: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. Julianne Moore in Safe. Jessica Lange in Frances. You won't hear much about this movie elsewhere, but add Sarah Silverman in I Smile Back to the list.

Sarah Silverman is a talented comedian, even if I'm not a huge fan of her work. She has this shtick where she acts all nice and sweet but says controversial things. Or sometimes the other way around.

Some of us have difficulty fitting into the roles in society. Finding a job and keeping it seems like an insurmountable battle. I've had challenges with it myself. For some woman an easy fix is to find a prospective man, marry him, raise kids, and keep up the house.

Make the meals. Clean the house. Launder the clothes. Mind the children, keep the schedules, always look presentable, and don't forget to smile.

I once watched a documentary about stay-at-home moms with substance abuse problems. It's a secret epidemic that some women hide from society, their husbands, and sometimes even themselves.

Laney, played with devastating realism by Sarah Silverman, deals with her struggles by drinking to excess, popping pills, snorting cocaine, and having unfulfilling extramarital affairs. It all brings her even more unhappiness, but she can't seem to stop. As her condition worsens she simply seeks to escape her guilt and self-loathing.

In moments of lucidity Laney realizes the treasures she has in her two children and her devoted husband. It's almost harder in that he is a decent guy who doesn't deserve the way she treats him. Bringing home the bread and butter isn't all glamorous fun and games either.

The worst part is watching the effect on the children. A daughter is too young to really understand what's going on, but an older boy sees it all too clearly. One particular scene where he walks in on his mother who is snorting coke while dealing with a nosebleed is difficult to watch.

Laney's descent into Hell is excruciating to behold. I Smile Back pulls no punches in its depiction of a woman who has lost all control over her life.

I Smile Back is a small independent movie that hasn't been seen by a lot of people, but Sarah Silverman deserves all the acclaim in world for her performance. She has spoken openly about her own depression, which she drew upon for the role.

It's funny. Horror professionals tend to be bright, sunny, childlike people. Comedians usually have a dark side lurking not too deeply beneath the veneer of their acts.

This is a hard one to recommend. I might as well say Requiem for a Dream is a fun time at the movies. Critics were largely unimpressed, even if most praised Sarah Silverman. Josh Charles is also very good as the beleaguered husband.

Don't expect a Hollywood ending to I Smile Back. This movie is a descent into the maelstrom of madness and addiction without a sugarcoated conclusion. It's based on a novel by Amy Koppelman, which I may read. Stories like these are hard to take, but they help me put my struggles into perspective and make me realize my own problems are very small in comparison to those of some tortured souls.

Written by Mark Sieber