Christina (Victoria Cartagena) and her mother Gloria (Sol Mirand) are in the midst of massive changes in each of their respective lives. They aren’t entirely sure how to deal with the changes, how to proceed with their lives, or how to commit to one another. Their love, however, regardless of how harrowing the situations might be, is unwavering. That love is there, though they must figure out how to use it. As they navigate their lives they are forced to beg one another to Come Find Me.
Come Find Me tells a story of light and how the light inside of us plays a pivotal role in ours and others’ lives (even if we don’t always realize). Throughout this film, a literal light plays a role in expressing this sentiment–helping to strengthen the metaphor and the message, and while it’s simple, viewers are able to appreciate what Writer-Director Daniel Poliner is trying to express. It’s a tinge cheesy, but it works for Come Find Me.
Other than that light, however, I’m not sure that Poliner puts his foot heavy enough on the gas. The things that transpire during Come Find Me aren’t quite forward enough at times, leaving a lot to be desired in certain moments. The scenarios depicted on screen are understood, but they are never fully developed. Viewers are thrown around like ragdolls, from struggle to struggle, never allowing them to become fully invested in anything that they see on screen. When we aren’t ever able to settle in, to really focus on the things playing out before us, we aren’t really ever able to care about the film. I’m not saying that Come Find Me has no allure, or that I was completely uninvested, but it was troublesome.
Both Cartagena and Mirand are wonderful actors, and they are full of emotion. They exude that emotion on a regular basis, but the scenarios in which they are placed don’t support them. Much of this film is about the support we give and receive regarding the ones we love, so it’s ironic that much of Come Find Me doesn’t work to support the actors present throughout. I’m impressed with what Cartagena and Mirand bring to the table, but viewers are forced to rummage through the sometimes dilapidated timeline in order to appreciate what they bring to the table. That struggle steals from Come Find Me, and I’m not sure that I ever really recovered from it.
Come Find Me has some metaphorical and moral value. Sometimes that sits right out in the open, ripe for the picking, but seconds later it remains dangled in front of us like a carrot on a stick–and viewers know they’ll never be able to catch it. Much of the narrative feels fractured–sometimes that’s intentional, but it stops the ball from rolling effectively. At the heart of Come Find Me is a plethora of potential, but that potential is never fully realized, never fully manifested–and much of the film falls flat as a result.
Written & Directed by Daniel Poliner.
Starring Victoria Cartagena, Sol Miranda, Tovah Feldshuh, Alice Lee, Adam LeFevre, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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