House of Fools

Running time: 103 mins

In the house of fools, we all have a chance to be free.

More than anything else, Aina wants to be released from the grip of mental illness. After throwing herself through a shop window, desperate measures are called for, leading to treatment through therapy groups and horseback riding lessons. Eventually, Aina recognizes that those who try to help her (including Stetson, named after his own hat) are doing so out of love, and her spirit starts to come back to life.

In tackling a serious subject with a warm heart and good humor, director Eva Isaksen?s sympathetic tale of keeping depression at bay features wonderfully nuanced performances by a superb ensemble?who, each in his/her own way, teach Aina about the importance of living and about the upside of living in the house of fools.

? Casey Burchby