Writer’s Note: This review first appeared during FIN, the Halifax film festival in September 2018. It is being re-run to coincide with Mouthpiece’s theatrical run.

Elegant director Patricia Rozema has delivered another unique, human portrait with Mouthpiece.

The film portrays Cassandra as two women whose competing voices pull her in two different directions as she attempts to cope with her mother’s sudden death.

As she deals with family, her difficult past and tries to reconcile her feelings about her mother, she represents the modern woman’s experience.

Cassandra is trapped, trying to decide whether to stay proper and quiet or candid and loud as the death of her mother allows her full freedom to be her own woman for the first time.

Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava each give unique, different performance as Cassandra, both effective and worth notice. And make no mistake, the performances here are what hold this intricate work up.

Though the film sags slightly in the middle, a powerful, well-composed ending brings this film to a deeply satisfying close. This is a film worth getting your hands on, in whatever capacity you can.

3.5/5 Stars