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Mothers and daughters often have a complicated relationship. Depending on the day—or even the minute—they can be the best of friends or the fiercest of foes. And in the indie drama Pin Cushion, a close knit mother and daughter find themselves dealing with the growing distance between them as they struggle to fit into a new town.
Pin Cushion follows quirky mother/daughter duo Lyn (Joanna Scanlan) and Iona (Lily Newmark) as they arrive in a new town, eager for a fresh start. Iona can’t wait to start her new school and make new friends, and she’s thrilled when the most popular girls in school take her in. As Iona spends more and more time with her new best friends, though, Lyn feels lost and lonely. And when Iona’s new friends turn into enemies and Lyn’s attempts to fit in fall flat, the two resort to lies and fantasies to try to survive.
This surprising indie drama walks a fine line between whimsy and tragedy, with lovably eccentric characters in a heartbreaking tale. Lyn is an awkward, anxious woman who prefers to stay home with her daughter and her parakeet—because when she leaves the house, she has to endure the stares and insults. Iona is sweet and upbeat and just as eager for friendship as her mother. The two have always had each other, yet Iona finds herself wanting more. She’s her mother’s protector and defender—yet she’s desperate to break out and have her own life, too.
These women have a style all their own—and that adds to the film’s charm. These colorful characters have an appropriately colorful setting—with vibrant accents and fittingly kooky costumes.
Despite the quirks, though, this isn’t a comedy. Sure, there are times when you’ll laugh—but, mostly, it’ll break your heart to see such sweet, earnest characters constantly bullied. Lyn is mocked for her appearance and tormented by a neighbor who refuses to return the ladders she borrowed. Like her mother, Iona wants nothing more than to make friends, but she’s teased by the popular girls, who let her into their circle long enough to humiliate her and make her life miserable. And the duo’s downward spiral makes for an honest but anguished experience.
Pin Cushion may feature a couple of unconventional characters, but this isn’t just a silly chick flick. It makes audiences fall in love with this lovable pair before tearing their world apart. It’s a challenging film, but it’s well worth seeking out.
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