I Smile Back

I Smile Back
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Adam Salky
Produced by	Richard Arlook Mike Harrop Brian Koppelman David Levien
Written by	Paige Dylan Amy Koppelman
Based on	I Smile Back by Amy Koppelman
Starring	Sarah Silverman Josh Charles Thomas Sadoski Mia Barron Skylar Gaertner Chris Sarandon
Music by	Zack Ryan
Cinematography	Eric Lin
Edited by	Tamara Me
Production company	Egoli Tossell Film Koppelman/Levien
Distributed by	Broad Green Pictures
Release dates	January 25, 2015 (2015-01-25) (Sundance Film Festival) October 23, 2015 (2015-10-23) (United States)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

I Smile Back is a 2015 American drama film directed by Adam Salky and based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Amy Koppelman, who wrote the screenplay with Paige Dylan. The film stars Sarah Silverman as an upper-middle-class wife and mother struggling with mental illness and addiction. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015. It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2015.

The film was released in a limited release on October 23, 2015, by Broad Green Pictures.

Plot

Outwardly, Laney (Sarah Silverman) appears to have the perfect suburban life. She has two loving children, a caring husband, and an opulent, upper-middle-class home. Beneath her seemingly pristine image lie anxiety, depression, unresolved childhood issues, and destructive behavior, which jeopardize everything she holds dear.

Cast

• Sarah Silverman as Laney Brooks
• Josh Charles as Bruce Brooks
• Thomas Sadoski as Donny
• Mia Barron as Susan
• Skylar Gaertner as Eli
• Shayne Coleman as Janey
• Sean Reda as Henry
• Chris Sarandon as Roger
• Billy Magnussen as Zach
• Kristin Griffith as Nurse Pauline
• Oona Laurence as Daisy
• Clark Jackson as Mr. Odesky
• Terry Kinney as Dr. Page

Reception

I Smile Back received mixed reviews from critics, with universal praise for Silverman's performance. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 53% approval rating, based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "I Smile Back serves as a powerful showcase for Sarah Silverman's dramatic range, but fails to surround her committed performance with a movie worthy of its depth". On Metacritic, the film has a score of 59 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Indiewire reviewer Katie Walsh gave strong praise to Silverman's performance in the film. Silverman was nominated for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the 22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2015. Shortly after, Broad Green Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. The film was selected to screen at the Jerusalem Film Festival on July 11, 2015. and the Deauville Film Festival on September 6, 2015, as well as the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2015, the Oldenburg International Film Festival on September 19, 2015, and the Chicago International Film Festival on October 16, 2015. The film was released on October 23, 2015, in a limited release.

Home media

I Smile Back was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on February 23, 2016.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipients	Result
2016	Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards	Best Actress	Sarah Silverman	Nominated
	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role	Sarah Silverman	Nominated

External links

• Official website
• I Smile Back at IMDb
• I Smile Back at Metacritic
• I Smile Back at Rotten Tomatoes