The Rest of Us

Yes, having never been placed in this situation nor anticipating what the attack on New York would do to the student population, Dean Patterson was ill-equipped and unprepared. Rather than empathizing with how the devasting tragedy affected everyone, screenwriters Laura Moss and Ricardo Pérez González paint the adults as the villains. In 2001, we were all trying to figure it out while, at the same time, dealing with our feelings. Yes, mistakes were made. Better decisions could have been pursued. But is demonizing these characters the right move?

There’s also a controversial art project that Calvin made to draw attention to the university’s handling of the matter and call out its incompetence. Plus, Reina’s narrative includes the FBI visiting Professor Perzada to look out for terrorist cells amongst his students. These specific story elements tell me to approach the film as a drama. But they also detract from the message, as they do not cohesively tie into that arc.

“These are relatable, three-dimensional people.”

Now stepping off my soapbox, I appreciate the stories of the students. Life is a struggle. In the case of Stayci, there was a battle raging inside about her identity and who she was that intensified because of 9/11. Maddie was profoundly affected by the attack, and when she expressed her feelings, she felt minimized by her parents, who shoved her into a different school as a quick fix. These are relatable, three-dimensional people.

The heart of The Rest of Us is Amy and Calvin’s attempt to make sense of the situation and foster healing, understanding, and empathy — even if Calvin’s approach potentially caused more damage than good. Their arc feels weighty and is engaging. While Reina’s story derails the central narrative, it’s a much-needed reminder to understand anyone from outside one’s current circle of friends and influence rather than give in to fear.

The Rest of Us has a great deal of heart, which I hope my point of contention doesn’t overshadow. While the plot may not be sure what it wants to be, the characters are well defined. Plus, the film has an important point to make and does a fantastic job calling attention to our current mental health crisis while encouraging empathy and compassion.

The Rest of Us is available to screen on Amazon Prime.