Everything Put Together

Angie (Radha Mitchell) seems to have a perfect suburban life. She has a loving husband (Justin Louis) and a close circle of friends, who are also expecting children. But her life falls apart when her newborn baby dies of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Her friends do not know how to cope with her bereavement and Angie becomes isolated in her own world, refusing to let go.

Everything Put Together is the second feature film by Marc Forster following two acclaimed documentaries focusing on childhood trauma. This film gives us the reverse angle, showing the gradual unravelling of a mother after losing her child.

Forster shoots on digital video, interposing handheld home video style shots with third person fly on the wall perspective. These two techniques, one personal, the other distancing reflect the gradual isolation experienced by Angie. As her mind unravels we experience sudden images of sharp terror. When she realises her baby is dead, all the colour is bleached from her face.

Unfortunately, this technical originality does not disguise the films lack of emotional weight.

There isn't enough to make us truly empathise with Angie, indeed it's almost as if we, like her friends, want to keep our distance. Despite this, the most impressive achievement of Forster and Mitchell is that you never know whether Angie will go over the edge. An intriguing film, right up to the end.