Review for This Wretched Life

This Wretched Life is not a wretched movie, or one that it would like to be. Before you get passed the box even, you are warned that this film is 'Unrated'. Usually this is the sign that even the censors washed their hands of it. I expected something akin to Requiem for a Dream or a French film like Baise Moi. I didn't get this. In fact, I'm unsure why this film was unrated as there's nothing here that is as shocking as either of those two films. In comparison, this film is rather tame. However, I still braced myself for the worst and actually found a film that wasn't wretched at all.
The film follows Chris (Daniel Ball) who after surviving a near fatal overdose is enrolled to group therapy sessions and one to one counselling. Here he reveals the various aspects of his and his friend's lives. The main point of this was to show all the 'Monsters' that people can be affected by including drugs, sex and even irritable bowel syndrome. Ok, when you read that last one you're probably thinking to yourself that this film has got to be a comedy. And it is, in the sense that I'm not sure we are meant to take it all seriously and yet there are very few 'gags' or at least funny moments. The tone of the film is a little haphazard at times and there are moments of aching sadness along with some just silly moments and I'm not sure whether it works or not.
During the film Chris interacts with a number of his friends including Ande (Ande Cira) and her autistic brother Frankie (played by the Director Frankie J Mosca). It is this dynamic that brings the film its edge as we see how Chris interacts with Ande who's life seems to consist of helping Chris and her brother and Frankie who I hate to say seems to be played for laughs (Within one scene they have him trying to cook ice cream). The performances by Daniel Ball and Ande Cira are actually pretty good, Cira particularly. I was surprised to find out that she has not acted in anything before, as she has an amazing command of this performance and hopefully she uses this experience as a stepping stone to even better things.
Filmed over nearly eight years this film feels like it was a real labour of love for Director Frankie J Mosca. The fact that he started filming it in October 2001 and did not complete it until March of 2009 is something to be admired. I was surprised by the film and the way it was constructed and edited and it is very reminiscent of early Aronofksy and even at some points of Scorsese. The sophistication of some of the shots is not something that I would expect from a low budget independent film and the use of music throughout was perfectly placed.
The DVD only comes with a trailer which is a little disappointing. As so much work had gone into the making of this film I expected some 'making ofs', maybe interviews or even a commentary. However, it is understandable that these do not appear and the website that accompanies the film goes into much detail into the making of the film for those interested.
As I said at the beginning, This Wretched Life is not a wretched film. In fact it is pretty enjoyable, though my problem is that it set me up for something that it did not deliver. I went in expecting a film that would make me sick at the end or outraged at what they created, instead I found it to just be another film. That being said, I'd still recommend it, as it is an excellent example of a true independent film.