An Invisible Sign 2010

     This film is an adaptation of Aimee Bender's novel An Invisible Sign of My Own.  Mona Gray is a young girl who uses mathematics as a means of dealing with a her father's devastating mental illness from a stroke.  Formerly, her father was a brilliant mathematician.  Mona is superstitious and she has compulsive behaviors.  She begins to eliminate everything in her life that she enjoys as a sacrifice to somehow make her father well again.  At the age of 20 years old, she is evicted from her home by her mother.  She is supposed to forget the past and get on with her life?  Her mother lies to Ms. Gelband, a school principal.  Mona’s mother says tells Ms. Gelband that Mona Gray has graduated?  Ms. Gelband hires Mona to teach mathematics to third grade students.  Lisa Venus is an orphan in Mona’s class.  Her odd behavior attracts the attention of teacher Ben Smith.  There is an incident at school and the life of Mona Gray changes. 
    Appearance can convey a lot about a character but it can't convey everything and be the only method of expression.  No one seems to know what they are doing in this movie or what they are trying to show?  A viewer can relate more to the children in the class since they are are far more interesting than the adults.  This is not a typical romance and not a typical feel good movie.  There are good messages about learning to deal with situations beyond your control.  Learning acceptance and coming to terms with inner turmoil plus letting go.  2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)

96 min, Comedy directed by Marilyn Agrelo and written by Pamela Falk, Michael Ellis and Aimee Bender with Jessica Alba, Chris Messina, Sonia Braga, John Shea, J.K. Simmons, Sophie Nyweide, Bailee Madison, Marylouise Burke, Ashlie Atkinson, Crystal Bock, Mackenzie Milone, Jan Colletti, Jake Siciliano, Stephanie DeBolt, Joanna Adler, Dovovan Fowler, Daniel Pearce, Ian Blackman .


Note:  Imdb 5.4 out of 10 with 3,917 views, 0% with 15 critics 33% audience with 1,959 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Slant Magazine 1/2* out of 4* Andrew Schenker, Common Sense Media S. Jhoanna Robledo, age 14+, 2* positive, 2* violence, 2* sex, 2* language, 1* consumerism, Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 61 reviews, Amazon gives the novel 4.2* out of 5* with 81 reviews. Letterboxd 2.6* out of 5*.
Special Note:  Filmed at Steiner Studios, Tarrytown, Tottenville and New York City.  America Ferrera was originally cast as Mona Gray but she dropped out of the cast.