Continue is a personal story about a woman named Dean (writer-director Nadine Crocker) who is involuntarily taken to a mental institution after a failed suicide attempt. While there she finds friends and love. She also learns that some decisions cannot be undone. Crocker’s film is a brave one. The plot is based on true events from her own life. This brings a genuine quality to Continue that is not always found. This is most evident in Crocker’s character. She is not simply playing a part; she has actually lived it. Even though some of the events can be difficult to watch, everything is presented in a way that feels authentic.
The entire cast is a big part of this. In a movie that deals with powerful themes like mental health and suicide, subpar performances tend to stick out more. They hurt the immersion of the story or negatively impact the message. That is never an issue in Continue, as it is well acted all the way around. Crocker never tries to hide that her movie is one with a message. It is about more than shining a light on mental health. There are a number of films that have claimed to do the same thing about any number of topics. Many times, there is a feeling that it is more about perception than delivering a message.
(Which is not to say these movies are unwatchable. They are often good movies that are able to get their point across. There is just a lack of realism that keep’s the audience at arm’s length.)
Continue also reaches out to those who are living with the same issues. There are films that deal specifically with mental health, but few stories actually speak to the people that live with them. Crocker not only does that, she allows her film to lean into its message. The sincerity and feeling that come through will remain with anyone who watches.
Continue screens at the Cinejoy Film Festival April 3
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