The Sky Is Everywhere is a teen romance that attempts to tell a story of grief and love through the eyes of a musically gifted girl, but is delivered in a quirky, imaginative style that sometimes feels over-the-top. The film introduces us to Lennie, a teenager who loses her sister and must navigate a confusing first love between a new guy and her sister's ex-boyfriend.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Lennie (Grace Kaufman) is a musically talented girl living with her grandmother Fiona (Cherry Jones) and uncle Big (Jason Segel) after her sister's sudden death. Her life is consumed by grief until she meets Joe Fontaine (Jacques Colimon), a new student captivated by her clarinet playing. At the same time, Toby Shaw (Pico Alexander), her sister's heartbroken boyfriend, also enters her life. Lennie must choose between the two while her imagination and heart conflict. The film unfolds through Lennie's perspective, with visualizations and fantasies that are sometimes beautiful and sometimes surreal.
Acting and Characters
Grace Kaufman delivers an impressive performance as Lennie, effectively conveying the vulnerability and confusion of a teenager dealing with loss, especially in scenes where she plays music and expresses emotion through her face. Jacques Colimon as Joe is charming and warm, while Pico Alexander plays Toby as serious and melancholic. However, all three characters lack the depth needed for the audience to truly connect. Cherry Jones and Jason Segel provide supporting roles that enrich the family atmosphere, even if their screen time is limited, adding weight to the story.
Direction, Cinematography, and Music
Josephine Decker, the talented director of Madeline's Madeline, brings a style full of imagination and beautiful visuals. The film uses superimpositions and visual effects to depict Lennie's inner world, which is both a strength and a weakness, as it sometimes feels cluttered and disrupts emotional immersion. The music and songs fit the atmosphere well, especially the clarinet pieces played by Lennie, conveying sadness and hope harmoniously. However, some imaginative scenes feel disjointed and lack continuity.
Editorial Analysis
The editorial team views The Sky Is Everywhere as an ambitious film in portraying grief through a teenage lens, but it falls into the trap of typical teen romance clichés. Using imagination as a storytelling tool is creative, but it makes the film's emotional tone inconsistent, sometimes feeling more like a music video than a feature film. Nevertheless, the film has beautiful and touching moments, especially when Lennie and Joe play music together—a gorgeous emotional communication without words. While the film may not appeal to a broad audience, it is worth watching for fans of experimental teen dramas.
Verdict
<p><strong>The Sky Is Everywhere</strong> has its own charm, suitable for those who enjoy teen dramas that emphasize emotion and imagination over realistic storytelling. Despite its flaws, it is worth watching for indie film fans and music lovers.</p>
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Lead performance by Grace Kaufman effectively conveys emotion
- +Beautiful music and clarinet pieces that express sadness
- +Creative visuals and imagination reflecting the character's inner world
👎 Cons
- −Script lacks smoothness, jumping between imagination and reality
- −Supporting characters lack depth, making it hard to connect
- −Overall emotional tone is inconsistent; some scenes feel over-the-top and break immersion
Top Cast
FAQ
Yes, the film is adapted from the best-selling novel by Jandy Nelson, published in 2010.
It is suitable for teens and fans of experimental teen dramas, but it deals with loss and grief, which may not be appropriate for younger children.
On TMDB, it has a score of 5.731/10. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 50% critic score and 60% audience score.
