Amy and Sophia

Amy and Sophia (2017) strives to be a touching piece about trauma, family, and friendship. Each character is carefully developed, has a significant presence on screen, and viewers gain insight into their psyches and motivations. However, some of the characters’ actions and the film’s narrative moments appear to lack meaning and purpose behind them, particularly in the final act. In addition to this, the film’s ending does not quite offer a satisfying conclusion. The final act appears to rely on the element of shock factor to increase the story's engagement, which falls flat as the narrative loses direction. That being said, there are plenty of heartfelt moments in Amy and Sophia, particularly in the film’s first half. Emma Raine Walker both stars as Sophia and wrote the screenplay for the film, whilst Ali Rodney plays Amy. For the majority of the film, both performers guide the viewer through a whimsical journey of suffering and escapism.

Directed by Adam Lipsius, the film is set in an English suburb and is about two young women whose lives have been disturbed by a catastrophic event, causing them to feel stuck. Sophia is an adult who lives as if she were still a child, clutching her soft toys and painting the world as she sees it through her imagination. She is taken care of by her grandmother, who dictates her life choices whilst belittling her for being unable to do anything for herself. Meanwhile, Amy is a young American woman who was forced to move to the UK with her mother due to her work commitments. Amy is an outsider in a small neighbourhood, and she seeks belonging in a group of young delinquents whilst struggling with the absence of her mother’s support.

Amy is full of rage and seeks to fight back against the forces which have power over her; meanwhile, Sophia is so unsure of herself that she can barely think of a positive attribute to label herself with. Sophia’s childhood trauma has defined her, leaving her unable to grow up or stand up for herself, using painting to express her desire to heal and be free from her grandmother’s hold. Amy, on the other hand, is in denial about what has happened to her, feigning strength and resisting any encouragement to confront and process her trauma.

The two women cross paths a few times in the neighbourhood and eventually befriend and confide in one another through painting. As their relationship blossoms, the film touchingly deals with dark topics, showing the disastrous impacts of trauma. The film effectively combines poignant realism with imaginative fantasy, demonstrating the beauty that freedom offers for these characters, whilst consistently reminding them that they have nowhere to escape to.

The majority of Amy and Sophia is strongly engaging in its storytelling. Every character is gradually outlined, as each narrative bubbles up before all eventually cross over. Although trailing off at some points, many of the side plots feel relevant to the main picture. The settings are used effectively, conveying a gritty British landscape while also addressing domestic and societal issues such as gender and violent crime. Furthermore, surrealist imagery is stunningly used to depict Amy and Sophia's heartfelt healing journey. The two women remain the key focus of the narrative, offering warmth and hope, and the viewer may find themselves rooting for them, despite their situations feeling utterly hopeless.

However, towards the end of the second half, the writing becomes shaky, and the events unfold as if they were in a soap opera, much unlike the touching storytelling seen in the first half. The film addresses the details of Amy and Sophia’s trauma beautifully in its first act. Through the raw performances and creative symbolism, the viewer can understand the devastating impacts of what they are both going through. In the last act of the film, scenes that attempt to delve deeper into the lasting impact of trauma are unnecessarily overdramatic. Attention seems to dwindle from the girls' psyches and shift rather to the basic depiction of shocking events. This, jarringly, takes the viewer out of the heartfelt story and into a removed space of watching horrible things happen, yet feeling disconnected from them. The story loses its impact, and sadly, Amy and Sophia seem to lose their significance.

The ending of the film is a poor attempt at closure for only one aspect of the film. However, the film seems to position the ending as an apt conclusion for everything that has occurred. Amy and Sophia juggles a lot of major societal problems, such as mental health issues, abuse, and misogyny. In the film’s first half, these are masterfully presented and are an integral part of the story. As the film comes to an end, these key elements are left out of the limelight, and the characters which have been so brilliantly built up feel substantially empty. While viewers may feel that the film's unfortunate weakness detracts from its overall strength, this piece remains a significant achievement in creatively presenting characters' struggles; it is just a shame that the film loses sight of this.