A teenager is forced to parent her parent in the indie film Mickey and the Bear, the debut feature from writer/director Annabelle Attanasio.

Set in a small, isolated town in Montana, this character-driven drama tells the story of breaking a cycle of familial dysfunction in order to live life to the fullest.

Mickey Peck’s (Camila Morrone) story begins on the eve of her 18th birthday. On a rare night out, away from eating fast food in their trailer home, Mickey and her dad Hank (James Badge Dale) indulge in a celebratory dinner, that is until the bill comes and Hank has no money to pay for it. His lack of responsibility and good judgment results in the duo skipping out on their restaurant bill, and just another illegal activity that Mickey reluctantly endures. This situation is all too typical for Mickey, who must assume a role that is more like her father’s caretaker than his daughter. Hank is a Marine Corp. Veteran whose addiction to painkillers, subsequent PTSD from his days on the battlefield, and grief over his wife’s death, has made it impossible for him to take care of his daughter, let alone himself.

Everything about Mickey and Hank’s relationship is dysfunctional, the biggest culprit being uncontrollable addiction. Hank is addicted to pills, Mickey is addicted to being her father’s rescuer, and together, they live in a constant cycle of frustration and hopelessness. Desperate to create her own path, Hank’s emotional absence in Mickey’s life forces her to grow up quickly. After attending school all day, she works at the local taxidermy shop for the necessary extra money. Her personal relationships are complicated too; when boyfriend Aron (Ben Rosenfield) begins showing qualities similar to those of her dad, Mickey is driven into the arms of the new student, Wyatt (Calvin Demba). When an opportunity arises for her to leave her hometown for the West Coast, Mickey questions whether she’s capable of leaving behind all she knows for a fresh start, even though it’s something she’s wanted all her life.

In a confident feature film debut, director Annabelle Attanasio creates a female-empowered coming-of-age story that shines on all levels. Casting director Avy Kaufman has once again assembled a stellar cast, including breakout actor Camila Morrone. Her nuanced performance feels soaked in authenticity and she carries the emotional weight of the film effortlessly. James Badge Dale is also a force to be reckoned with. The quietness of the film and its surroundings in Anaconda, Montana is the perfect offset to the loud echos of Hank’s mental illness, a complex juxtaposition. Although the message “life isn’t equal or fair” is evident throughout the film, Mickey and the Bear ultimately proves that by dispelling the thought that we are owed something, it is possible to live an authentic life, on our terms.

MICKEY AND THE BEAR (2019)

Starring Camila Morrone, James Badge Dale

Directed by Annabelle Attanasio

Written by Annabelle Attanasio

Distributed by Utopia. 88 minutes.

Opening this Friday at Landmark’s NuArt. In theaters nationwide November 29th.