Hide Your Smiling Faces

Hide Your Smiling Faces is a 2013 American drama film directed by Daniel Patrick Carbone. The movie is set in the rural outskirts of a small town in America and centers around an introspective study of maturing young boys experiencing the weight of reality for the first time.

The film, gripping from start to finish, stars talented young actors, Ryan Jones and Nathan Varnson, who portray brothers, Tommy and Eric. Colm O'Leary adds depth to the cast with his significant performance as Ian. The characters' intricate relationships with each other are encased within the quiet yet pressing setting of a remote countryside.

Hide Your Smiling Faces opens with a standard day of Tommy and Eric diving and swimming in a nearby river, playing with their friends, and exploring the forests that surround their house, a routine depiction of the boys' seemingly innocent and carefree lives. But this tranquility is interrupted when they encounter a grim event that jolts their playful reality. The profound shock of this incident forces them to question the nature of life, death, and their existence in this world.

The film focuses heavily on themes of growing up, brotherhood, and coming to terms with mortality. It paints a strikingly profound portrait of adolescent life filled with raw emotions, curiosity, fear, and confusion. Director Carbone presents the contrast of innocence and the harsh realities of life against the serene but undeniably foreboding backdrop of the vast natural world. With nothing but each other to lean on in their isolated world, the two brothers are compelled to bravely navigate through this new phase of life.

The stunning performances of the fresh-faced cast cannot be heralded enough. Ryan Jones portrays the younger brother, Tommy, embodying the boy's inner confusion and innocence with remarkable nuance. Nathan Varnson, who plays the eldest brother, Eric, delivers a controlled yet deeply emotive performance. His character, being older, seems to perceive the gravity of their situation more heavily. The weight of this understanding is expertly etched on Varnson's face throughout the film. Meanwhile, Colm O'Leary's portrayal of Ian contributes significantly to the film's dramatic tension and thematic depth, adding another layer to the raw and complex emotions explored in this narrative.

What differentiates Hide Your Smiling Faces from the plethora of coming-of-age films is that it does not document the traditional transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood marked by first loves or rebellions against the system. Instead, it communicates the harsh awakenings from a sheltered life in a small town's outskirts, dominated by nature and isolation, to the distressing truths about life framed by the lens of adversity.

Hide Your Smiling Faces makes great use of its stark, rural setting, emphasized by long shots of sprawling landscapes, forested areas, and characters insignificantly framed against the immensity of this natural world. It immerses the audience in this quiet American countryside through the masterful use of cinematography. Furthermore, the atmospheric ambient sound design adds depth to the overall grim mood of the film, making the audience more engrossed in this tale.

The film's narrative subtly hints at social issues faced by families in such remote areas accompanied by a palpable sense of economic hardship. It also evokes a clear sense of place, emphasizing the almost claustrophobic isolation felt by the characters who exist in a sparsely populated environment surrounded by nature.

In conclusion, Hide Your Smiling Faces is a film that deftly encapsulates the essence and struggles of rural adolescence. With the remarkable acting abilities of Ryan Jones, Nathan Varnson, and Colm O'Leary, together with the meticulous direction of Daniel Patrick Carbone, the film left a remarkable impact on the audience. The movie's strength lies not just in its profound narrative and characters but also in its quiet presentation. Above all, it is a poignant exploration of life, death, and everything unsaid in between. A must-watch for those who appreciate profound cinematic experiences.