Two Ways Home

Two Ways Home is an independent drama film released in 2019, directed by Ron Vignone and starring Tanna Frederick, Tom Bower, and Elizabeth Bauman. The narrative is set against the quaint and visually stunning backdrop of Iowa's lush farming country, where every scene brings you closer to its powerful message while simultaneously dazzling the audience with its breathtaking vistas.

The film brings us into Kathy's world, splendidly performed by Tanna Frederick, a remarkable woman grappling with the complex interrelation of mental illness, family relationships, and personal identity. Kathy, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, whose life has taken an erratic mix of highs and lows synonymous with her condition, decides it's time to go home and face the family ghosts she's been running from most of her adult life.

In her journey towards reconciliation and self-forgiveness, Kathy returns to her rural, mid-western hometown in Iowa to make things right with her family, especially her stern and steadfast father Walter, brilliantly portrayed by Tom Bower. Walter, a stalwart and resilient farmer, has dealt with his fair share of difficulties, contending with a shrinking economy, threats to his family's property, and above all, his daughter’s mental health condition.

One of the central conflicts in Two Ways Home is the passionate battle to keep their generations-old family farm from being repossessed. While the struggle to save their land forms a significant part of the plot, a larger thread explores Kathy's crusade to regain her family's understanding and confront her bipolar disorder head-on. While the path is strewn with obstacles and is emotionally fraught, Kathy's relentless quest for acceptance creates thought-provoking drama around her struggles and dominant themes of the movie. At its heart, Two Ways Home is a story about the perseverance and strength of familial bonds.

Elizabeth Bauman, who portrays Kathy's estranged daughter Cori, also brings an intense and poignant performance. Cori, a teenager caught in the emotional crossfire of her mother's journey towards healing and her grandfather's stubborn reluctance to change, provides us with a nuanced perspective on the multifaceted impacts of mental health on familial relations.

The movie stands out for its sensitive yet unflinchingly honest portrayal of mental illness. By centering the narrative on a character with bipolar disorder, the film highlights the challenges of this condition and dismantles certain biases about mental health. It shifts the discussion surrounding mental illness from despair towards resilience, hope, and acceptance, shedding light on the issue while also providing viewers with an engaging, heartfelt narrative.

Furthermore, Two Ways Home isn’t just a testament to the endurance of familial bonds; it is also an exploration of rural American life. The film delves into the struggles of the farming community, offering an intimate glimpse into their life and issues while keeping the audience engaged with beautifully shot sequences of tranquil and scenic farmlands.

The engaging storytelling, stand-out performances by the lead actors, and the raw, heart-wrenching depiction of themes surrounding mental health and family dynamics make Two Ways Home a deeply moving cinematic experience. Tanna Frederick delivers a career-best performance, ably supported by a thoroughly skilled supporting cast, including Tom Bower and Elizabeth Bauman.

Two Ways Home is a movie with a tender and compassionate outlook that takes the audience on an emotional roller coaster. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, emphasizing that the road to self-forgiveness and acceptance can be challenging but eventually rewarding.