Movie Review: “Year One” – A Dive into the Fragility of Mental Health and Self-Discovery.

Does everyone need therapy? Or does it just harm others? And could being in the wrong company set your mental health on the wrong path? These questions form the backbone of ‘Year One‘, a bold and thought-provoking indie drama written and directed by Lauren Loesberg.

The film centres on Ruby (played by Elizabeth Yu), a college freshman navigating the complexities of her first year, the film explores mental health, self-discovery, and identity through a unique narrative.

At its core, ‘Year One‘ is about Ruby’s unravelling. The film begins with her first week at college, where she struggles to adapt to her new environment. Her awkward attempts to make friends lead to a partnership with Selene (played by Emma Raimi), her roommate. The two girls are as different as night and day, hailing from vastly different backgrounds and possessing contrasting personalities. Though they strive to live peacefully with each other by making compromises, their uneasy coexistence often feels like a fragile truce rather than a friendship.

Elizabeth Yu and Emma Raimi in Year One (2024)

As the academic year progresses, Selene starts to struggle with her anxiety and it becomes a problem for Ruby as well since Selene won’t let her know how to best care for her. Selene points out that her therapist believes that Ruby, might be the cause of her anxiety attacks and she never complains to her sorority sisters.

Meanwhile, Ruby starts to crumble under the weight of her academic struggles and begins to withdraw. She imagines an alternate version of herself, an alter ego who is everything Ruby wishes to be. This glamorous, confident projection of Ruby starts to “live” a better college life on campus, becoming a metaphor for Ruby’s desire to escape her reality.

The film’s psychological depth is masterfully portrayed through Elizabeth Yu’s performance. She captures the fragility of Ruby’s mental state and the allure of her imagined alter ego so convincingly that it takes a moment to grasp that the other Ruby is merely a projection of her inner turmoil. The lead actor’s dual performance is a great anchor to the quality of performances in the film, making Ruby’s spiral both believable and haunting.

Emma Raimi’s portrayal of Selene is equally compelling. Her depiction of anxiety attacks is so raw and convincing that the viewer feels as helpless as Ruby does, unable to find the right way to comfort her. The strained dynamic between the two characters is one of the film’s most compelling aspects, showcasing how mental health struggles often ripple out, affecting not just the individual but those around them.

However, the narrative itself is not without flaws. Lauren Loesberg crafts a fluid yet frenzied storyline, packed with fast cuts and a rapidly shifting timeline that demands close attention. While this approach progresses the narrative quickly, it can feel overwhelming and even confusing, especially for viewers who aren’t prepared to piece together the fragmented narrative. Personally, I found myself restarting the film three times to fully grasp the nuances of the story. A luxury not every viewer may have.

The pacing issues aside, Lauren Loesberg succeeds in capturing the essence of a typical college experience, although this is one heightened with psychological drama. The film feels authentically “indie,” with clever use of limited resources to create an intimate yet layered exploration of Ruby’s psyche. The pressure of academic performance, the longing for social belonging, and the weight of mental health challenges are all relatable elements, but they are presented in a way that might alienate some viewers.

Ultimately, ‘Year One‘ is a story about identity, mental health, and transformation. It speaks to anyone who has ever grappled with existential turmoil. It provokes much-needed conversations about the pressures of young adulthood and the fragile line between coping and losing oneself.

However, the film’s deeply important themes are at risk of being overshadowed by its dense storytelling. While its message about self-discovery and mental health is commendable, the narrative’s complexity may deter viewers who aren’t willing to invest the time and energy required to fully engage with it.

I would rate this film 5/10. It’s a film with an important message and decent performances, but its delivery may not resonate with all audiences. For those who can endure its challenges, ‘Year One‘ offers a poignant exploration of identity and mental health that is conversation-worthy. For others too, it might just end up being a dense narrative with uneven pacing that may obscure its deeper layers. But surely for everyone, it would serve as a reminder that sometimes our greatest battles are the ones we fight withing ourselves.