Watch Everything Is Wonderful

Everything Is Wonderful is a heartfelt drama that delves into the complicated relationships and unresolved pasts of a trio of young adults. The film, directed by Pia Mechler, follows the story of Lena (played by Tonia Sotiropoulou), a woman who returns to her hometown in rural Pennsylvania after years of living abroad. Lena is on a mission to reconnect with her childhood friend, Kate (Hannah Herzsprung), as well as to confront a traumatic event that occurred during her youth.

From the beginning, it's clear that Lena and Kate's friendship isn't what it used to be. Lena is closed off and stoic, while Kate has become an unpredictable, free-spirited artist. The two women have a palpable tension between them, exacerbated by Lena's reluctance to share the details of her trauma. However, Kate is persistent in her attempts to reach out to Lena, and the two begin to slowly rebuild their relationship.

Meanwhile, Lena has also caught the eye of a local farmer named Paul (played by Aaron Rota). Despite initially brushing him off, Lena finds herself drawn to Paul's kindness and sincerity. As their relationship deepens, Lena must confront the reality of her past and the effect it has had on her ability to connect with others.

One of the most striking aspects of Everything Is Wonderful is the way it handles trauma. Lena's experiences are never explicitly spelled out, but are instead left to the viewer's imagination. Both Lena and Kate are haunted by the events of their childhood, but cope in vastly different ways. Kate throws herself into her art, while Lena bottles up her emotions in an attempt to distance herself from the pain. Through their interactions, we see how different people can respond to trauma and how difficult it can be to move forward.

The film also explores themes of cultural identity and belonging. Lena has lived abroad for many years, and her return to rural Pennsylvania comes with a sense of displacement. She struggles to reconnect with her family and her former way of life, and is met with hostility from some of the locals due to her foreign background. This theme is most evident in the scenes between Lena and Paul - their romance is sweet, but tinged with a lingering tension stemming from their very different backgrounds.

The cinematography in Everything Is Wonderful is stunning, capturing the quiet beauty of rural Pennsylvania. The film's muted color palette is both melancholic and soothing, with scenes of lush greenery and stark winter landscapes providing a sense of serene isolation. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with haunting indie folk music underscoring many of the film's most emotional moments.

The standout performances in Everything Is Wonderful come from Tonia Sotiropoulou and Pia Mechler. Sotiropoulou imbues Lena with a sense of guardedness that is both heartbreaking and frustrating - while we sympathize with her trauma, her inability to connect with those around her can be infuriating at times. Mechler, who also directed the film, delivers a nuanced performance as Kate, balancing her artistic whimsy with a deep sense of pain and loss.

Despite its heavy subject matter, Everything Is Wonderful is ultimately a hopeful film. It speaks to the human capacity for resilience, for connection, and for reconciliation. While Lena's trauma can never be erased, her journey is a testament to the power of healing and the importance of confronting one's past. Overall, Everything Is Wonderful is a poignant drama that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to let go and move on.

Everything Is Wonderful is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.7.