By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Liz Sargent
Starring: Ali Ahn | Marceline Hugot | Shane Harper | Steve Way | Victor Slezak
Year: 2026
Running time: 91
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37263549
Brett says: “TAKE ME HOME is a title phrase that could connote multiple associations before one dives in, and that loaded phrase is why it’s a perfect theme for a movie that touches on a variety of life encounters. Liz Sargent brings this gem to audiences as her first feature, and the rawness of some of the subject matter matches the rawness of the direction that can attract many to a first feature filmmaker.
“The director is an adoptee herself, and among the film’s topics is that of adoption, so the themes in the film feel very tied to whatever real life the director must have led. The script centers on Anna, an adult adoptee with cognitive disabilities who lives with her aging parents. Anna’s sister Emily is no longer part of the picture back home, as she has moved off to pursue her own independent life. Sargent casts her own sister in that role of Anna, so–accurate or not–there is a sense of real life complication and implication dipping into the film as the actual director of the film is pursuing a career in the industry while still connected to a sibling with important needs. The connections to real life are secondary for this viewer, so the joy of reveling in the merits of the film itself is my focus, but the imprints from real life are just worth mentioning so that viewers who love to integrate the real life stories and people behind the movies know that they undoubtedly have many avenues they could stroll in terms of talking about the film itself alongside Sargent’s personal experiences.
“As for the film, it is beautifully done in the sense that there are several slices of life that resemble impressionistic artistic stylings; that is, the story doesn’t hammer the audience in any way with overt, overwritten plot points. Make no mistake though, there is a masterful plot within; it’s just not bogged down with overexplanations and Hollywood-esque emotional tropes. The unveiling of Anna’s personality and the personalities of her parents are like watching the family through glass walls. Adoption, special needs, institutionalized barriers, and aging are just a few of the themes touched on, and emotional range tied to each of those is astounding over the course of film that’s not much more than 90 minutes. Those who enjoying wallowing in layers upon layers of the same point that gets driven home across an entire film might find themselves wanting more from the conflicts and situations that are presented here. Some, on the other hand, will find the lesser defined “brushstrokes” here very effective for giving us enough to make our own clarity and, thus, emotionally wreck ourselves and uplift ourselves through the impressions we are given. With that said, the best advice would be to approach the film without any preconceived notions or plot reveals from reviews (reviews can be good, yes, but plot reveals, probably not so much in this case) and the viewer’s own perceptions will be recognized as that which helps the film soar.
“Beyond the fact that there is so much to feel in this movie, the artistic choices for the film language therein are subtle, but no less a pleasure as well. Orlando is the city at the center of the film, and the lighting and presentation is great at offering both ‘sunny Florida’ and its shadowy sides. This is by no means a plot or thematic comparison in any other way other than to note another film that seems to capture Florida in this similar artistic sense, but THE FLORIDA PROJECT is like that at times in terms presenting Florida as the sunny dreamland while also revealing the residents’ artificial dreamland constructs inside something that is actually pretty grimy.
“Anna Sargent as the lead actor is a powerhouse, and all of the supporting roles are key to helping provide the effects the film are going for. If compassion and having your heartstrings played is on the agenda for viewers anytime soon, the implications of the aptly titled TAKE ME HOME would be a very good decision to pursue. The only real downside to this film is not one that it can help, and that’s the fact it is outside the era of Blockbuster and home video rentals, so that the title could lend itself to the right advice of adopting a copy of it for a couple of nights.
“4 CATS OUT OF 5“