"All My Puny Sorrows" is a movie I really, really wanted to like. It features some of my favorite actresses-giving wonderful performances-and certainly means to explore deep, interesting human drama. Unfortunately, this film is a classic example of biting off more than can be chewed both plot-wise and thematically.

For a very basic overview, "All My Puny Sorrows" tells the story of two sisters, their mother, and generational (perhaps inherited) depression. After Elf (Sarah Gadon) fails in a suicide attempt, sister Yoli (Alison Pill) reunites with her-and mother Lottie (Mare Winningham)-in order to figure out exactly what happened and try to get Elf back on the right path.

There are actually a lot of things to like in this setup that my 4-star ranking somewhat belies. The acting is fantastic from the trio of leading ladies, it is shot/constructed in an interesting and engaging fashion, and it always seems important (never boring or pointless). In a sense, it has many of the bones that comprise a great indie film.

The elephant in the room, however, is that plot/theme-wise this movie is all over the place. Is it about sisterhood? Generational depression? Suicide? Mennonite culture? "All My Puny Sorrows" tries to tackle all of those at once and doesn't have the chutzpah to pull it off. So, the entire experience ends up feeling like a series of interesting/compelling ideas that never really lead anywhere because-in a 1:43 runtime-there just isn't enough time for exploration before it is "on to the next topic".

So, "All My Puny Sorrows" is what I'd consider a "really solid, not very good" movie, if that makes any sense. It technically does all the things one would want in a human drama film, but fails to crystalize into a coherent, thematic whole in the end.

Within a family filled with enlightening sturdyness, but also the dark sides of mental health family history. This film gave me a new view on the heavy gravity of the term depression, and that it is actually, or may be or could become a deadly disease to someone...sometime...yes a deadly one, why havent any top shrinks defined it as it is...to somebody...a deadly disease ...where medication wont take away the darkness and sadness that engulfs individuals from time to time and eventually never sees the light again, cause its a deadly disease...to somebody.

They say things are running in the family, and suicide may also be a term that may infect a family tree. Its a well acted, heavily and deep written screenplay about death and life, love and loss because the a-train to heaven took of far too early. A film that will bore some and excavate deep gashes in someones hearts, a tear will drop in someones commemorations of a lost partner, child or friend.

So throw yourselves into the purgatory where its rather cold and dark, a very realistic set of silverscreen emotions that the grumpy old man recommend if you need to.

This is not a film for everyone. It moves at a slow burn. It addresses the repeated tragedy of suicide in a family. It lets its story rest in its characters. The heartbeats are daily struggle, silent moments, deep bonds and literate musings. If it were not for the extraordinary talents of the cast this film would lose its footing but there is great talent here. I give this film an 8 (masterfully performed) out of 10. {Drama}