Review of Canvas

Whereas "A Beautiful Mind" was a thoughtful, consciousness-raising, award winning film concerning Schizophrenia, this film is even better. Marcia Gay Harden's performance is right on the money showing the terror of this illness and the human being who exists right along with it. Young Devon Gearhart and Joe Pantoliano as the son and father in the family, accurately depict the agonizing impact on the family, in an understated, never sappy way. The film accurately depicts the course of the illness, hope followed by dashed hopes, followed by renewed hopes. This is a chronic, relapsing illness that has to be fought every day. SPOILER ALERT FOR WHAT FOLLOWS! Even the last scene which shows the triumphant reunion of the family, shows the family returning to the hospital where the mother is still a patient. She is making progress, but still has a long way to go. The film stays honest to the end.