Seeing this film was not my original plan. Between Us was playing at the Dallas International Film Festival and so was the another film I was intending to see. I assumed that my first choice was playing at the primary movie theater for the festival, but that ended up not being the case. I stumbled into the theater playing Between Us after hearing the director, Dan Mirvish, would be in attendance. After all, I was glad I saw this film because it wouldn't be my typical film choice. It's refreshing to see a film you know nothing about and enter the theater with open expectations.
The somber tone was spot on. The tension between Sharyl and Joel after their fight could not have been portrayed in a more impactful way. Surprisingly, Mirvish was even able to work in lighthearted moments such as a gag about ordering milkshakes. The jokes gave the audience a break from the jabs the couples made to each other.
Symbolism shown with yellow lighting as Grace drew money from an ATM separated it from the other harsh, tension-filled scenes that made up most of the movie. Watching couples battle about marital issues (including couples at different stages in their relationships) forced the audience to be uncomfortable. The silences were painstaking, but wonderful at the same time. This film required the audience to reflect on their own relationships and delve into how they interact with the people they love. I expected to watch a comedic movie, but ended up watching a movie on the opposite side of the genre spectrum and enjoyed it thoroughly.
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