Review of Short Term 12 (2013) by Art S — 29 Nov 2015

Emotionally raw look at workers and youth in a residential treatment facility that is a total downer because the focus is on the aftermath of abuse they've suffered at the hands of their parents. However, like many downer movies, this is also uplifting in that it highlights people's ability to cope with extreme situations.

The acting is naturalistic and these people felt real - only occasionally does the script lead them to be a bit more overt about their feelings/problems than you might expect. That said, people hurting this bad might actually cross that line into awkward self-exposure as a cry for help.

Brie Larson is the backbone of the film, as the lead line worker who has a similar background to many of the kids in the facility and struggles to keep her balance as life keeps happening to her. Not the kind of film I would normally choose for escapism but I'm glad I did.