A Light Beneath Their Feet

Orange Is The New Black’s Taryn Manning stars alongside up-and-comer, Madison Davenport, in this completely raw look at the challenging balance between caring for a sick loved one and finding your own independence. Davenport plays Beth, an introverted teen trying to decide where to go to college. Her single mother (Manning) suffers from bi-polar disorder and is barely able to take care of herself. When she misses her meds, it’s an intense scene. Beth’s parents split when she was young, her father unable to handle his wife’s manic outbursts. The divorce left Beth with the difficult responsibility of caring for her mom, causing her to miss out on a normal childhood. Her mother’s well-being weighs heavily on her college plans; she wants to study afar, but knows it means leaving her mom alone. A LIGHT BENEATH YOUR FEET doesn’t demonize mental disorders as Manning’s excellent portrayal is carried out with grace, contrasting her character’s beautiful soul in balance with the ugliness of her disease. Manning and Davenport’s chemistry is truly authentic; the delicate but fiercely loyal relationship between their characters will melt your heart. –E.F.