Love Land

Ivy, a 24-year-old tattoo shop assistant, has been in trouble with the law more than once. But that’s not exactly her fault. Although she has been cavorting with the wrong crowd, Ivy is also disabled. A car wreck several years ago left her permanently brain damaged. While she can complete most day-to-day tasks without assistance, she behaves more like a teenager than an adult, and she has little hope of progressing. Ivy’s primary caretaker is her older sister Dot. But Dot’s live-in boyfriend Carl is fed up with Ivy’s antics, and the couple decides to send Ivy to a state-funded institution, called Love Land Ranch, for a 60-day trial period. Surrounded by more severely disabled people, Ivy is desperate to regain her freedom. Still, many residents, like amiable tour guide Roger, can’t see why she’d want to refuse the comforts of the institution. Showcasing compelling performances from a developmentally disabled breakthrough cast, Joshua Tate’s LOVE LAND exposes the limitations of state-funded facilities, especially for those who long to live normal, independent lives. – E.B.