The Year Between

Writer/director Alex Heller stars in this anxious dark comedy as Clemence, an abrasive and angsty college dropout recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, as she returns to her Illinois home to live in her parents’ basement and figure out what the hell to do with her disrupted and disruptive life. —M.G.

Heartwarming and comedically caustic in equal measure, THE YEAR BETWEEN is the debut feature from writer, director, and star Alex Heller. The film follows Clemence, who immediately struggles with the ways of college life and returns home to her frustratingly normal family. Clemence is quickly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, battling with her therapists, her new coworkers, her younger siblings, and her parents (played by Steve Buscemi and J. Smith-Cameron). As the coming year brings new trials for Clemence and her family, her confrontational wit can only hold off her mental illness and encroaching adulthood responsibilities for so long. In presenting the everyday reality of mental illness, the film subverts traditional coming-of-age stories as much as it celebrates them, delivering nonstop laughs along the way. —C.F.

Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

GUEST(S) ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR Q&A ON 3/23/23