Watch Madeline's Madeline

In the 2018 independent drama film Madeline's Madeline, newcomer Helena Howard gives a mesmerizing performance as Madeline, a teen girl navigating a complicated relationship with her mentally ill mother (played by Miranda July) while exploring her burgeoning talent as an actress in an experimental theater troupe. Molly Parker co-stars as Madeline's well-meaning but boundary-pushing director, Evangeline.

The film is directed by Josephine Decker and is a hypnotic, often disorienting exploration of identity, performance, and mental illness. Madeline's Madeline challenges the traditional narrative structures of most films by weaving in and out of Madeline's real life and her theatrical performances, blurring the lines between what is real and what is part of Madeline's artistic creation.

The film opens with Madeline in a psychiatric hospital, where she has been hospitalized for an undisclosed reason. As she is released into the care of her mother, it becomes clear that Madeline's relationship with her mother is complicated - her mother has bipolar disorder and is more interested in Madeline's acting abilities than in being a supportive parent.

Madeline's outlet for creativity and self-expression is her participation in an experimental theater troupe, where Evangeline encourages her actors to use their own lives and emotions as inspiration for their performances. Madeline, who has a vivid imagination and a sometimes tenuous grip on reality, fully embraces this approach and becomes the troupe's star performer.

As Madeline becomes more and more enmeshed in her role-playing, however, her relationship with Evangeline becomes increasingly fraught. Evangeline, who is white, frequently appropriates elements of Madeline's black and Hispanic identity for use in her performances - something that Madeline seems only partially aware of but that deeply bothers some of the other actors in the troupe.

As Madeline's performances become more intense and her grasp on reality begins to slip, the tension between her and Evangeline reaches a breaking point. By the end of the film, Madeline is forced to confront some hard truths about herself and her relationships - both on stage and off.

Madeline's Madeline is a challenging and visually stunning film that rewards careful attention from viewers. The camera work is frequently impressionistic and dream-like, with Decker using techniques like extreme closeups and distorted sound to blur the lines between Madeline's internal and external experiences.

Howard's performance is the standout feature of the film - she transitions seamlessly between Madeline's various emotional states, from vulnerable and childlike to fiercely independent and self-assured. The film's portrayal of mental illness is nuanced and empathetic, eschewing the tired Hollywood trope of the "crazy" person for a more complex and realistic portrayal of what it's like to live with a serious mental illness.

All in all, Madeline's Madeline is not a film for everyone - its unconventional narrative structure and sometimes dizzying visuals may be off-putting for some viewers. But for those willing to engage with it, the film offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, creativity, and the complexities of the human psyche.

Madeline's Madeline is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 81.