While not breaking any molds or revealing a side to addiction that many films haven’t before, Stay Awake tastefully captures how devastating it can be for family members. More importantly, the script shows how it can impact people differently. For 19-year-old Derek, being there for his mother is his top priority, no matter how many times it takes to get her healthy. On the other hand, Ethan deals with the difficulty of having to rescue her differently. For him, Michelle’s inability to break her habit reflects her lack of love for her sons. As this thought begins to take a toll on Ethan, he acts out and finally gets the courage to share his truth with his brother and mother.
“…sincere and heartwarming, even though this is an emotionally draining narrative.”
The opposing reactions of the two brothers are subtle aspects that work well. But it also reflects the important nuances of depicting trauma and how young adults may deal with it. Casting Argus and Oleff to portray such variations in emotional response were perfect choices. As Derek, Argus uses subtlety and strength to bury negativity while his character deals with the anguish brought on by his mother’s preferences and the fallout from them. Oleff’s Ethan is more vocal about how her disease affects him. Within these conversations, the young actor delivers his lines with intensity and conviction. Together, the duo’s on-screen chemistry in portraying brotherhood and family support through trauma is sincere and heartwarming, even though this is an emotionally draining narrative.
The reality about movies that portray drug dependency and abuse is that sometimes it works, and other times, it’s simply a way for filmmakers to heal from their trauma. For Stay Awake, it’s both. Writer-director Jamie Sisley does a great job capturing the perspectives of two young men whose biggest concerns should be “what should I do with my life?” but instead, it is “will my mother be alive when I get home?” Sisley’s own experiences have helped shape a great narrative. At the same time, his ability to highlight the intricate nuances of distress with respect to a family member’s addiction is a testament to his ability as a wonderful, rising filmmaker.
Stay Awake was the opening night film at the 2022 SFFILM festival.
"…a way for filmmakers to heal from their trauma."
