In her feature directorial debut, Parachute, Brittany Snow explores one woman’s journey through recovery, resilience, messiness, and healing.

Riley (Courtney Eaton) is recently released from a rehab facility after struggling with disordered eating and body image issues. She is encouraged to spend that first year single, but that quickly becomes complicated when she befriends Ethan (Thomas Mann). The film starts off feeling like a romantic comedy. Boy and girl meet. The timing isn’t right, but there is an immediate connection.

However, the star-crossed lovers journey soon evolves into the unraveling of Riley’s mental health. Riley and Ethan may not be dating, but Instagram models or saved messages from her ex-boyfriend quickly have Riley using Ethan more like a life preserver and less like a friend. Even as Riley tries to push forward as if nothing is wrong, you get glimpses inside her mind of how she compares her body to those of the women around her. At therapy, Riley cannot help but analyze her therapist’s (Gina Rodríguez) body, comparing it to her own. Snow brilliantly intercuts shots of arms and clavicles and faces to highlight how disruptive those thoughts are; she literally interrupts your own thoughts watching the film to build a level of understanding to get the audience into Riley’s mindset. 

In addition to the constant comparisons, we also see Riley’s relationship with food. How it is used to detract from negative thoughts and feelings. How consuming the act of eating can be for her. Despite all of this happening, you cannot help but root for Riley – and Ethan. They’re funny and vulnerable and charismatic characters, thanks to Eaton and Mann’s performances. It’s those moments of levity and love that make the slips back into Riley’s struggles all the more painful to watch. 

It’s not just Riley’s relationship with Ethan that is complicated. Riley’s friendship with Casey (Francesca Reale) highlights Riley’s internal struggles bleeding into her interpersonal relationships. Casey is the first person we see show up for Riley. Yet, as Casey moves forward in her life, Riley doesn’t always have the capacity to be present and invested. As the film progresses, you witness the strains in their friendship, which adds to how isolating and debilitating Riley’s mental health can be. Seeing the various relationships in Riley’s life helps contextualize the ripple effects of behavior and struggle and community. 

Parachute is not an easy film to watch, but it is one of the most important (and accurate) depictions of mental health you’ll watch. Snow and co-writer Becca Gleason craft a story and characters that feel incredibly lived in. You can see reflections of real people throughout. It is that humanization of Riley that makes this film so powerful. She is allowed to be both selfish and self-conscious, resilient and fragile, struggling and fighting. She is written and presented and – most significantly – cared for in all of her complexity. 

Above all, Parachute is an incredibly vulnerable film. Snow has opened up about her own mental health and struggles. No matter how much of this film mirrors Snow’s own experience, it is evident that her lived experience adds a level of empathy and understanding to her filmmaking that others would not achieve. It’s deeply human in its authentic and honest approach. Mental health on screen is usually sensationalized. We regularly see grand mischaracterizations about disordered eating and body dysmorphia. Snow exudes honesty, authenticity, and love throughout her film to ensure a truthful and tactful representation of mental health graces our screen.

Even with its difficult subject matter, Parachute is a film that manages to charm and entertain. There are elements of romance, the banter of friendship, the delights of being a mess and figuring it out. It is the perfect encapsulation of what life is. It can be so challenging. But the moments of joy, the triumphs of growth, and laughing at life’s absurdities don’t cease to exist during periods of turmoil. It is critical to show these moments. Because life is not all doom and gloom, nor is it constant rainbows and sunshine. Films like Parachute allow ourselves to explore what life is and what is can be; it can be a call to action to find a little more empathy.

It cannot be understated how impeccable Snow is behind the camera. Every frame, every tonal shift timed so perfectly, you would assume this was someone’s 5th or 10th film as director. There is a clear vision of what this film is saying narratively, but also a sophisticated eye in how to ensure that visually unfolds seamlessly. It is my personal belief that female actors who then direct make a stellar debut, and Snow exemplifies that. This film is clearly made with passion, compassion, and intention. From start to finish, Parachute will pull you in and keep you firmly invested in Riley and the people who make up her world. Even with the heavy subject matter, Snow expertly ensures that the layers and multitudes of humanness never escape from our sights. Parachute is an achievement in storytelling, anchored by a truly phenomenal performance from Eaton. If this is what Snow does with her feature directorial debut, I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Grade: A

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: Best Director, Best Actress (Courtney Eaton), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Where to Watch: In Select Theaters