Directed by Maxime Bonett and Yorgo Glynatsis, Unravel shares a woman’s journey through EMDR therapy treatment. The narrative relates to a Bonett’s personal experience with childhood trauma and the lasting effects this can have.
The film captures a fragment of Alexia’s (Maxime Bonett) therapy session where Dr Nick Ecorn (Adam Zellen) is using techniques to coax a traumatic memory that has been suppressed since childhood to the surface of her mind. He seeks to bring forward the difficult and painful memories in a safe environment so they can be processed and she can begin to heal.
Bonett’s closeness to the narrative translates well into her performance as Alexia. She captures the subtleties of discomfort and unease as effectively as the crescendos of anxiety that overwhelm her. We drift between the therapist’s office and the fragments of Alexia’s memories. The simplicity of the setting and storyline allows the viewer to latch on to the nuances of Bonett’s performance, paying close attention to the flow of emotion. Through the exercises, Alexia begins to get closer to the memory. But the more fully realised the memory becomes, the more terrifying and painful it is.
The traumatic event is told through flickers and glimmers, but we can piece it together to begin to understand the nature of the abuse she endured. In the memory, Alexia is a young child. An elderly male figure haunts the periphery. After the peak of the memory has subsided, the therapist helps Alexia ground herself once more.
All the elements of Unravel are woven together with sensitivity and care. The softness of the lighting creates a sense of safety, reminding us that, despite the stigma, therapy is a safe environment for exploring the terror of the past. Although the emotions can be unpleasant and bring forward great discomfort, feeling the emotions and acknowledging them is a fundamental factor in the process of healing. Another highlight is the piano music by Valter Nowak accompanying throughout, growing and shrinking parallel to Alexia’s feelings. The music works to align the audiences emotions with hers, encouraging us to feel more deeply.
One of the goals for the film was to normalise speaking up about mental health and encourage people to see professional help where necessary. Unravel helps to show that childhood trauma is not just “misremembering” or “poor recalling” but the result of a defence mechanism that tries to protect the self from pain and suffering.
An all-round excellent film from the performances, to the production, to the message being conveyed. Watch the trailer below!