‘Pink Skies’ Ahead’ is a light-hearted comedy which entwines a serious mental illness – anxiety, making it worth a watch for those who like to dwell upon real subjects other than just fiction. This can be rated amongst the few films of recent times which have been widely appreciated. Very few directors take the risk of stepping onto risky territories and Kelly Oxford is one of them who has taken up this bold subject related to mental illness as his debut venture. Millions across the world face this illness but not many are forthcoming about the same, which leads to further complications is what the film focuses on. The film tries to add a humorous side to it with the introduction of many characters and scenes which compliment well to the flow of storyline. The response of the audiences have been overwhelming as it has been widely acclaimed by viewers as well as critics.
Oxford’s outstanding directorial skills are displayed in every scene, whether intense or humorous, he has taken every minutest details into account and framed the shots which have come out amazingly well. The film revolves around its protagonist Winona played by Jessica Barden, who suffers from anxiety disorder but ignores her condition and goes ahead to live a haywire life. Set in the early 1998, it brings back all the early memories to mind and is truly nostalgic to its roots. This young woman is surrounded by her overprotective parents, roles essayed by Marcia Gay Harden and Michael McKean and a bunch of friends who are humorous to the core. Winona is a stylish, charismatic and confident personality, but somewhere loses herself when faced with difficult situations and challenges. She freezes when any such drastic condition turns on to her, that’s when a visit to her doctor, played by Henry Winkler, reveals a serious medical condition called anxiety disorder. Nonetheless, she ignores her diagnosis and leads a rash lifestyle, getting drunk and indulging in activities that are forbidden by the society. The film has many interesting characters who mold perfectly along the plot. One mention worthy character is that of Jacob, played by Jeremy Rudd, who’s Winona’s ex-boyfriend and a college going youngster always up to some trouble. He’s also a ladies man and charms members from the opposite sex amazingly. There are a lot of impressive scenes around this actor, which are a highlight of the film.
There are a lot of entertaining moments which fire up the screens like the one where Winona along with her party girlfriend Stephanie played by Odeya Rush take mushrooms and fall asleep on a blanket in the park. Winona’s disorder keeps aggravating as the film progresses, leading to her other friend Addie (Rosa Salazar) advising her to go for a complete therapy. There’s a romantic twist in the film when Winona meets Ben (Lewis Pullman), a polite Ph.D. student who is all impressed by her sense of humor and impeccable style. ‘Pink Skies Ahead’ excels in almost all aspects of filmmaking and can be rated as one of the finest films of recent times, which definitely needs mention amongst all. It’s a sure shot winner from a viewer’s point of view.
