In Her Name

When it comes to familial relationships one of the strongest bonds around is the one that siblings have with each other. But what happens when that bond is damaged and weathered by time and circumstance? And how do you find your way back to one another? Written and directed by Sarah Carter, In Her Name takes us on the journey of estranged sisters Freya (Erin Hammond) and Fiona (Ciera Danielle)…and how they find their way back to one another after time, toxic parents and overcoming their own shortcomings to remind one another that sisters are forever. Oh, and maybe having a little reckless fun in the meantime.  

After the death of their mentally ill mother (Sarah Carter) and their father Marv’s (Philippe Caland) declining health, Freya is reunited with her straight-laced sister Fiona when she pays Freya and Marv a surprise visit. But the visit is not all friendly. Fiona explains that since their mother owned the house and left it to her when she passed away, she wants to sell the house in order to settle Marv’s mounting debt. As Marv refuses to leave his home and continues living his bohemian artist lifestyle with hopeful ingenue Peter (James Aaron Oliver) and friends, Freya and Fiona find solace in their frayed relationship and begin to repair the distance that their parents brought upon them during their split…hopefully also finding the answers to solve their own personal struggles.  

Carter’s experience in front of the camera as an actress is truly a strength when it comes to her debut as a feature director. Her precision in casting and being able to create an authentic storyline in less than two hours is spot on. Each character is vivid within the black and white medium that the film is shot in. Whether you cringe at Peter’s horndog advances towards a married Fiona or hope that Judah (Nyambi Nyambi) succeeds in helping Freya thrive in the art world she loves so much, you’re engaged in learning the outcome. But In Her Name is about more than just the characters and their idiosyncrasies, it’s their flaws and how the artistic style that the movie is shot in provide the perfect backdrop….and especially how within art the two sisters repair their bond.  

What I truly love about the film is how Freya and Fiona repair their relationship with one another, even though the relationship with their parents was anything but ideal. While we don’t really see much of the mother except in flashbacks, you get the sense that the mother’s mental illness and Marv’s narcissism were not a good fit…and their own toxic behaviors almost destroyed the pureness that Freya and Fiona’s relationship embodied. Hammond and Danielle make that ebb and flow through the movie more honest in ways that those of us who have had parental complications can understand. In a way, they’re both still the children that never quite got a fair shake at a normal life and it shows in the way they react to real-life situations throughout the film. Whether it be Freya’s desire to have her artwork praised by her father or Fiona’s reluctance to admit that her white picket fence marriage needs fixing, both begin to grow and evolve once they shake off the complications that their parents own shortcomings placed on their lives. And from there they begin to flourish and heal.  

Not all relationships are perfect as there are always going to be flaws and imperfections. But siblings are meant to be that support system when you need it most. For Freya and Fiona their desire to rise above their circumstances is best done when they are together. In Her Name reminds us of many things, but one sticks out: life is always better with a sibling.