Watching a movie can be a very therapeutic experience. Seeing a character you relate to can help you feel less alone and process situations from a new perspective. In the indie feature Stockton to Table Rock, filmmaker Elliot Norton bravely shares his wife’s story of survival amidst childhood abuse and lingering trauma. The result is an authentic-driven narrative that will touch hearts and signal to anyone struggling that they are not alone. Relief is possible.

Based on Reality, a Story of Hope

Stockton to Table Rock, inspired by and starring Zoë Kelly, tells the story of Rori (Kelly), a high school senior who reaches a breaking point in her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Shelly (Jessica Ires Morris). Rori is a spunky and sharp teenager who typically thrives at school, taking initiative and projecting confidence. However, feelings of self-doubt and insecurity arise when she returns home and is around her self-centered and alcoholic mother. Using flashbacks to portray her complicated past, Rori is exhausted by living this double life. Her scholastic safe haven is interrupted when she encounters a teacher’s assistant who reminds her of her mother. The woman has a short temper and is borderline verbally abusive, triggering Rori to relive difficult moments from her childhood, including gaslighting, abuse, and manipulation.

As a single parent, Shelly depends on Rori for daily tasks and household upkeep. As a result, Rori must bear more responsibilities than most children from two-parent households. This codependency between mother and child finally comes to a head when Shelly suffers a medical emergency and Rori is forced to act as her caretaker. Seeing Shelly as a dependent instead of an abuser is a strange contradiction for Rori to make sense of. Now that Rori is older and has agency over her life, she is finally able to decide if the current relationship she has with her mother is one worth maintaining.

Takeaway

In Stockton to Table Rock, filmmaker Elliot Norton and Zoë Kelly share a story of resilience and strength. Through tremendous vulnerability, Kelly shows that it’s never too late to make amends with those you’ve wronged. Your inner child can heal at any age so long as one’s intentions are pure. The character of Rori serves as a symbol of hope, of not letting the past define one’s future. Set to a richly layered score by composer Jesse Blake Rundle and strong performances by Kelly and Jessica Ires Morris, Stockton to Table Rock is both an inspiring and aspirational watch.