Pam says:
Two Sleepy People creates an unusually insightful approach to life and therapy as we meet Lucy and Syd in their advertising workplace. Lucy, played by Caroline Grossman who also co-wrote the film with Baron Ryan, introduces herself to her new co-workers with an endearingly awkward persona. We are privy to her inner monologue as she berates herself for her inability to edit her thoughts before speaking, convinced she comes across as odd to those around her.
Syd, played by Ryan, is also somewhat awkward and is married to Donna (Sarah J. Bartholomew). It becomes immediately clear that their relationship is no longer rainbows and butterflies. Syd and Lucy’s boss, Craig played confidently by Jonathan Flanders, who seems to channel a very real-world marketing manager, tasks his team with developing an ad campaign for a new melatonin-based sleep aid. Naturally, the team samples the gummy, but Lucy and Syd are in for a few surprises.
Both begin experiencing strange dreams, and from the viewer’s perspective, we are initially unsure where or when we are. That uncertainty quickly gives way to clarity, revealing the film’s most remarkably creative element: Lucy and Syd are able to interact within their dreams, access past traumas which in turn influences their future selves. These dream-state discoveries are often comical yet deeply poignant, unfolding with a few twists and turns, keeping us fully engaged.
Lucy and Syd are immediately likable characters which makes watching their growth all the more rewarding. As they come to understand themselves better, they begin making choices that genuinely improve their lives. We all know a “Lucy” or perhaps we are one. She’s tense, self-effacing, and at times downright embarrassing, yet watching her is like witnessing a cocoon slowly open. Through her dreams and her evolving connection with Syd, a beautiful metamorphosis takes place.
Together, Ryan and Grossman create believable characters navigating unbelievable worlds, and we find ourselves rooting for them every step of the way. The ensemble cast is rounded out by Donna, whose own arc reminds us that we are often far too quick to judge one another.
This independent film makes bold choices in both set design and musical score, and those risks pay off. The film embraces a “less is more” philosophy, very much in the spirit of Mies van der Rohe, and Ryan’s direction keeps the focus squarely on the story. Tell a good story well and you have a successful film. Two Sleepy People does exactly that.
3 stars
