Review of The Glass Castle (2017) by Rachel P — 17 Aug 2017

I absolutely loved this film adaptation of Jeanette Wall's powerful memoir. The acting and casting were phenomenal, with an incredible overall performances by Woody Harrelson as Rex and Ella Anderson as the teenage Jeanette. I felt very drawn into the harsh reality of her painful childhood with negligent, selfish parents and a tight band of survival-oriented siblings.

I appreciated the delicate line that the film walked in the struggle between disavowing those who have hurt you, but also still loving the parts that are beautiful about them. The critic reviews seem to focus so much on the "glorifying" of the dreamer aspect of Jeanette's parents - I don't find this to be accurate. The duality struck a very true chord with me, as real relationships with family members can be tumultuous and damaging, but still have room for redemption without automatically wiping the slate clean.

Heart-wrenching and beautifully shot with an amazing score, this film is a must-see!