Just In Case (2021)
The film starts with two people driving down the highway in the rain, they are silent but there is talk radio playing in the background. Eventually they arrive at their destination. The man gets out of the car while the young woman waits a minute before exiting and from that establishing sequence, we know she has a lot on her mind and is gearing up to have a serious conversation.
Of course we learn rather quickly the identities of these two individuals - they are father and daughter. They sit down in a service station together. At one point the man asks, “how are you feeling?” I couldn’t help but notice the sound changing briefly and subtly. A ringing in the ear-type sound accompanied by a reverberated disruption suddenly takes hold of this young woman’s mind. If there was ever a sound to indicate anxiety or fear, this might be one of the best representations of the calm before the storm hits. We know this person has something difficult to let out.
My experience with this comes with two variations that I’ll briefly mention before elaborating further on Just In Case. Once, my father took me out for pizza to kindly let me know why there have been so many arguments and anger coming from my mom to my dad. I was about 12 and unprepared to both see and hear my dad become fearlessly vulnerable and open about why they stopped getting along and the source of all this tension taking place. He was someone who didn’t always let his emotions show but when he did, it couldn’t have come from a more sincere and compassionate heart.
Then there was the time when I had to tell my mom that I once attempted suicide. We were having dinner at Red Lobster and my memory is a little fuzzy as to how I finally confessed what happened but it came out. Of course, she was in shock. But both of these moments stand out to me in life as being unexpected encounters with honesty over sustenance with the two people who raised me. They weren’t really planned; they happened spontaneously, organically and with a lot of good intention. We had to be real.
Rachel (April Kelley) is about to do the same for her father. How do you tell your Dad (Philip Glenister) you’re fighting to stay alive? That every day is a battle, a struggle to keep going? Of course, as a parent the first instinct is to know how to help, how to be there. What happens when you - that parent - is faced with the harsh reality that they can’t actually fix the problem? That’s what dad is wrestling with as Rachel is continuously learning how to manage her disorder and cope with the varying fluctuations in mood. Together they have to come to terms and accept that their lives are forever changed but their connection together and their ability to even just sit down and have this conversation is proof that there’s hope. Resilience is possible.
Just In Case is making the festival rounds currently and I had the immense pleasure of watching it virtually for the Mental Filmness Film Festival linked above. It’s hard to find another film this year that impacted more deeply than this one. Even though it only runs 14 minutes, the writer, filmmakers and actors here all know how to make an impact in that short span of time. April Kelley has crafted something that should be shown in psychology classes or even as a recommendation from therapists to their clients.
This film is a shining example of experiencing empathy through something carefully crafted while also observing the complex layers of mental health from a straightforward approach. This is almost done in the style of filmmakers like Tom Noonan, Mike Leigh or Richard Linklater - focused on the need for honest conversations between two people being real together while simultaneously learning about one another’s imperfections. Any person that has had some kind of serious one-on-one discussion with someone they’re close to can relate to this dynamic even if they don’t suffer from mental illness or suicidal ideation.
It is also remarkably well-directed courtesy of Kirsty Robinson-Ward with a style that’s not hampered by static shots or long takes. At times the dad is out of focus and we are seeing perceived reality through Rachel. We see her legs shake or hear her internal monologue. The sound design sends a little jolt to the viewer at various times in ways that recall another film about coming to terms with a different affliction, Sound Of Metal. There’s even a moment that acknowledges how everything feels or seems loud to Rachel. She is dealing with an unquiet mind full of intrusive thoughts. We get to experience that and it never feels like a random stylistic detour. It showcases her fragile mentality as she’s about to reveal how dark things can actually get for her. All the while, she doesn’t want to scare her father at the same time.
When I say this is one of the best films I’ve seen all year, keep in mind that it’s partially due to knowing precisely what Rachel feels and having had the same thoughts myself, especially late at night. That’s not to take away from the fact that this is still an experience that anyone will be able to connect with even if they haven’t dealt with the same exact situation or circumstance directly. The reveal of Rachel’s letter might be the hardest I’ve cried all year (and then what she says about seat belts) and certainly the father’s reaction to what she communicates to her is part of that. Both actors deserve accolades for grounding all of this without any modicum of Capital A “acting” that calls attention to itself.
Dad just wants to fix this and of course that’s the appropriate instinct to have. Father and daughter seem to say the right things without once sugar coating the truth with trite sentiment. That’s a testament to this screenplay and the sublime work here from Kelley and Glenister especially once we get to a truly powerful ending. It has an outspoken humanity that is completely earned. I wouldn’t dream of revealing what is ultimately said but it felt to me like watching two real people I knew instead of a performance in any way. This is one of the most thoughtful and insightful films not just about facing mental health within a family, but the power of a familial bond between a father and daughter that learn to understand one another without judgment. Just In Case should be seen by everyone looking for a truly special short film; it deserves awards and universal acclaim. You can do so for free by clicking here.
