Between Mountains (2022) User Reviews

Lifes Hardest Lessons

[catheraneskillen · 8/10 · 27 February 2023]

Between Mountains follows a man's painful journey through his loss and the varying emotions he encounters, bringing to mind things we are all called upon to face at some point in a life. The earth has majestic beauty and yet our relationships with others are critical to our lives as well. Much food for thought here and what a roller coaster ride life can be. I'm amazed this was shot on an iphone which captured the beauty of the majestic forests, lakes and mountains. To think that an entire film can be shot on a small device and look this good is amazing. Truly awe inspiring locations. Kudos to Vineesha Arora-Sarin.

Coming out of Trauma Transformed

[baccaruda1 · 7/10 · 6 March 2023]

One of the most difficult things to do in cinema is to convey deep emotional damage visually. Feelings aren't visual, but emotions can be captured in a variety of ways, and that was the approach adopted by writer/director Vineesha Arora-Sarin. Told in three distinct chapters, the film shows the recovery journey of a man who has experienced life-altering loss. The film is a visual journey at its heart, using nature as a both a catalyst and a metaphor, which is something that cinephiles will appreciate. Sumptuous shots of California's forested vistas create a mood of hope and understanding, as Amit Sarin's character of Johnny Morris ascends from the depths of his despair. This film succeeds from an artistic standpoint, but as I watched, I found myself wanting to relate to Johnny's recovery journey in a parallel storyline, that pulled me deeper into his back story, with perhaps a couple lighter moments to ease the deep sadness of the story. Still, film fests clearly love this film, and who would have ever guessed that iPhone footage could looks so great! An overall ambitious piece, one that may help others face their own feelings in the face of tragedy.

Stages of Grief

[dtittone · 9/10 · 22 March 2023]

"Between Mountains," written and directed by Vineesha Arora Sarin, follows a man (Amit Sarin) as he grapples with the untimely death of his young son as well as his wife. Vineesha captures the various stages of grief that Amit's character (Johnny Morris) endures as he undertakes a road trip through Utah, California, and Nevada. Vineesha uses nature as a backdrop to Johnny's grief, and it ultimately proves to be the only source of comfort for Johnny as he contemplates suicide as a result of his extreme sadness. The cinematography is beautiful. Vineesha 'paints' a canvas with the various natural images she captures to parallel Johnny's journey and grief. Overall, this film is sad and heartbreaking, but it effectively serves to remind the viewer that time is limited and that we should all embrace the time we are given.

Epic Reflection

[kjs1144 · 9/10 · 2 March 2023]

This movie, Between Mountains, is a terrific drama with fantastic visuals and a character wrestling with extreme pain. With stunningly beautiful locations and wide shots of nature, mixed with voice over, I would say that this reminded me a lot of a Terrence Malick film. Basically, if you're a fan of Terrence Malick, you will almost definitely like this film as well. The emotion that the main character is going through with the loss of his son is very raw. The soundtrack deserves recognition as well, as it is also amazing and mixes so well with the shots, the voice over, and the story. This film is definitely worth your time.

A heartwarming journey

[thatalmanyanarula · 9/10 · 22 February 2023]

Between Mountains is beautiful. With the fantastic direction of Vineesha Arora Sarin and the soulful acting of Amit Sarin they both take you through a heartbreaking journey of what it truly means to cope with the loss of a child and loved one. Remarkably shot on an iPhone, this film features beautiful scenery and landscapes that invite you into the psyche of our lead. It not only sets the tone for our leads mental state but lures us on an empowering and inspiring adventure on closure and what man's relationship to the vastness of nature could truly be. We ride along with him as he takes us through the emotional depths of his arc.

Between Mountains

[lorinmorg-179-38860 · 10/10 · 8 December 2022]

A beautiful art film by Vineesha Arora-Sarin about the mourning process of a father, played by Amit Sarin, met with the untimely death of his child. There is a captivating calmness of life moving in circles around him, while his passed wife's wisdom on dying hours guides his thoughts and his journey to break through the darkness. "Where do I go?" Echoes the father.

Using the majestic landscape of California and the Southwest, the father's search for his lost spirit returns him. The fragility of life and its appreciation is ever present between mountains in this Orphic tale of triumph over fear and loss.

Like watching a poem

[RBIves-202-725352 · 10/10 · 1 March 2023]

This isn't a traditional plot driven film with a cast of characters and 3 acts. But does it need to be? Sit back relax, and let the sadness wrap you up in a warm blanket. Our main character is on a West Coast road trip while grappling with the coincidental loss of his wife and son. His hopeless is overwhelming, and his journey is gripping. The camera is focused on the nature surrounding us while the ethereal soundtrack sweeps us away. There's lots of time for introspection and wondering what we're really here for and how we can know whether or not we're succeeding.

It's pretty wild these filmmakers did an indie with so many locations. It looks like they really jumped in a car and traveled around California, Utah, and Nevada. I appreciated the non-traditional structure and very much enjoyed my time with this film.