POPPY SHAKESPEARE (Benjamin Ross, 2008): UK

Reviewed by Mimi Shiffman. Viewed at 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Have you ever watched a film in which someone is committed to a mental institution (a North London psychiatric center in this dark comedy by director Benjamin Ross) and agonized for the person to be free again? Call this person “Poppy Shakespeare”, say “Action! “, and the next thing you know you are in a darkened room with many other people.

Oh! and say “I Spy with My Big Eye Through the Looking Glass!” Never mind keeping an eye out for the White Rabbit, just keep watching “N”, a mental patient herself, who is a member of the group, “Not Very Insane People Against the Scheming Psychiatric Staff “, and brace yourself for her morphing skills.

Feeling confused? No worries – just join the “Following Along Nicely Until Story Suddenly Hippity-Hops To Ending And Huh…??? ” group. There is a crazy plot hatching to read the book of the same name by Clare Allan and achieve clarity.