Directors Maritza Brikisak and Christina Tsialtas take a sensitive and nuanced approach to the struggles of people from every walk of life. Those who feel they can no longer function as part of society and need a place of respite before re-emerging into the world at large might find themselves lucky enough to be taken in by Miss Sophie. Although their circumstances are varied, coming into the care of Miss Sophie creates a universal space for growth and gives a kind of security not readily available from the government due to lack of funding.
This is not to say that the Cottonwood residence is free of money trouble. In fact, quite the opposite. Operating outside of the regulations of a registered shelter, Miss Sophie receives no support from the government, instead relying on donations and her own funds to maintain the house. She doesn’t agree with some of the rules that would come with registering the Cottonwood residence as a shelter, aiming to keep it as accessible as possible for all. But will the price of this freedom be too great? As the missed payments mount up, Sophie risks losing the shelter all together.
In front of this financial struggle stand the residents of Cottonwood – those in need of a break from society, or someplace safe to stay while they get back in their feet. Huevo, (Marcio Moreno), Maude (Keerthi Paikera), Andrew (Phil Trasolini) and Blue (Dan Zachary) are among some of the residents we meet. The colourful cast of characters come together to create a profound sense of community – one which Miss Sophie is anxious to protect. This becomes evident as we meet Kathy: a woman running from a painful reality. She is in deep denial that her son has been killed in action. This denial has caused tension within her marriage as both the young soldier’s parents’ battle the horror of losing in a child. Both parties deal with this grief in different ways, but Kathy’s denial runs like a river between, separating them when they most need to be together and supporting one another.
When Kathy is no longer able to escape reality in her mind, she tried to run from reality in the physical sense, putting distance between her and the possibility of acknowledging her son’s death. Disorientated and alone in the woods, she stumbles upon Cottonwood. With no idea what this place is, Kathy allows herself to be led inside in a daze. One of the longer term residents, Amber (Lumen Beltran), a bubbly chatty young woman, finds Kathy. In order to protect the community, Miss Sophie has a stringent set of rules for newcomers. However, Amber takes pity on Kathy and bends the rules to get Miss Sophie to let her stay.
Inside the shelter, Kathy becomes Alice as she continues to run from reality, hoping the change of name moves her further away from the fact her son is dead. Once inside Cottonwood with Kathy/ Alice we meet people with drug and alcohol problems, people with brain injuries and terminal illness, and people with PTSD. Brikisak and Tsialtas take a sensitive and humanistic approach to these people, showing their personalities beyond the reason they are struggling in life. We so often let people’s struggles define them, however Sophie’s Rules steps towards changing this. These are not drug addicts, alcoholics and mental illness patience but people with a heck of a lot to offer society, once they have been given a helping hand to get back on the right track. Sophie’s Rules does an excellent job of capturing and portraying this.
With brilliant acting from all cast members, the portrayals of these characters are further deepened. Nuanced and dynamic performances from all involved. Maritza Brikisak as Miss Sophie remains stoic and strong as well as passionately caring and sensitive. Saraphina Joachim as Kathy works well next to Brikisak, creating a sort of central narrative that holds the rest of the film together, giving it direction without dictation. Another high point of the film is the music which beautifully accompanies the scenes.
Well-written and directed with confidence and creativity: Sophie’s Rules is a heart-warming look into how one person’s selflessness improves the lives of so many others.
Watch the trailer below.