Mary Goes Round (Molly McGlynn, 2017): Canada

Reviewed By Ryan Rullman. Viewed at Metro 4, Santa Barbara.

This heart filled drama by Molly McGlynn is nothing but pure bliss. This film touches every emotion from beginning to end. This was the second film I chose to watch at the film festival this year and it stood out among most! With great cinematography from Nick Haight, his use of quick tight up closes cuts and matches between Mary and her step sister, and father, it really shows the tension of the situations and problems being revealed in the film.

Aya Cash seems to take hold of the roll of Mary Jackson, so well with such dramatic situations. Her  alcoholism and getting re-introduced to a step sister Robyn along with a distance father who is vastly dying of cancer, you cant help but feel for her and love her at the same time. I also realized the more Mary gets drunk and bad things happen, you really start to fall in love with the character due to the dry comedic relatable humor throughout the plot.

I noticed while watching this film there was a significant amount of navy blue in the mise-en-scene with a heart touching scene of a navy blue butterfly. I later found out that the director was using this color to showcase contentment, loyalty, fulfillment, and peace of Mary’s life direction in the film. These themes symbolize the actions and results portrayed by Mary’s impact on herself and others.

With Marys status of becoming somewhat of what you could say as a surrogate mother towards the end of the film to her step sister, she definitely holds true to the viewer of some of the most dramatic situations if you had to step in her shoes. This drama really brings you into the realization that anyone can deal with family and personal problems not matter how weak you may become. With Molly McGlynn’s  Mary Goes Round,  I’d give it a 9 out of 10. I believe this is why it won the Panavision  Spirit award for Independent Cinema this year in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.


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