Directed by Peter Sattler.
Starring Ben Platt, Lola Kirke, Debs Howard, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alphonso McAuley, Andy Thompson, Chad Willett, and Lynda Boyd.
SYNOPSIS:
In the wake of his father’s death, a twenty-something writer sees his dream of moving to Paris put in jeopardy when he’s forced to temporarily take in his wildly unpredictable, mentally ill sister.
The official plot synopsis for
Broken Diamonds is enough for anyone to become skeptical, especially considering schizophrenia is sensitive and tricky to handle on-screen. In the case of Peter Sattler’s direction and the script from TV writer Steve Waverly, what’s here is an unapologetic movie-style depiction of the disorder allowing Lola Kirke several moments as Cindy to chew the scenery and basically act crazy because it’s what the story demands. Rarely does it feel like the story or characters want to understand or explore schizophrenia in any meaningful way. In other words, this is a well-acted exploitative melodrama that rings hollow.