Interesting semi-experimental movie which tries to take us inside the mind of a young teen who is going through psychological issues. Madeline (Helena Howard) is the young woman. She is taking an improvisational acting class taught by Evangeline (Molly Parker). The play they are preparing incorporates Madeline's life as an inspiration including the challenging relationship she has with her mother Regina (Miranda July).
That synopsis takes a full half of the movie to come into focus. Rather than follow that story, Director Josephine Decker plunges the viewer into Madeline's emotions from her POV. Distorted camera angles, discordant sounds, snatches of music and jagged cutting are all used to make her internal thoughts manifest on screen. It's a daring technique and it will certainly turn off viewers expecting a more traditional approach. For much of the movie, it works as a experiential enterprise. When the movie tries to be more concrete it falters a bit. One wishes Decker followed her muse all the way, rather than try so hard to add a standard narrative. Equating mental illness with an acting class is a bit disquieting, although Decker does a nice job exploring the duality of Madeline's mom and her teacher.
The acting here is solid. Howard is a genuine talent and keeps the movie engrossing even when it stumbles. Decker worked out the material along with a real theatrical troupe (it's called "immersive", rather than improv) and it certainly adds a layer of verisimilitude to the enterprise. MADELINE'S MADELINE is certainly a niche project, but, adventurous viewers should seek it out.
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