I Smile Back
A psychologically raw portrait of a mother whose addiction and compulsive escape threaten to erase the family she loves.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- bleak
- unflinching
- intimate
- serious movie night
- character study viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that Sarah Silverman delivers a powerful dramatic performance, while the surrounding film does not fully match its depth.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Laney's drug use and compulsive behavior progressively threaten her relationship with Bruce and her children.
Laney is married with children in a wealthy family while privately struggling with addiction and mental illness.
Critical reception consistently singles out Sarah Silverman's committed dramatic performance as the film's defining strength.
Laney repeatedly pursues drugs, sex, and disappearance despite the looming damage to her family.
Films like I Smile Back, and why
Rachel Getting Married
intimate addiction drama centered on a self-destructive mother and family collapse
Shame
grounded portrait of addiction, mental illness, and a protagonist struggling against destructive impulses
The Lost Weekend
emotionally raw domestic drama about substance abuse and fractured family relationships
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam Salky
- Release Date
- 2015-10-23
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (128)
Cast
- Sarah Silverman
- Josh Charles
- Thomas Sadoski
- Skylar Gaertner
- Chris Sarandon
- Terry Kinney
- Mia Barron
- Shayne Coleman
- Kristin Griffith
- Nick Taylor
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is I Smile Back about?
- A psychologically raw portrait of a mother whose addiction and compulsive escape threaten to erase the family she loves.
- What is I Smile Back like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of I Smile Back as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is I Smile Back violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in I Smile Back as mild.
- What did critics think of I Smile Back?
- Critics broadly agreed that Sarah Silverman delivers a powerful dramatic performance, while the surrounding film does not fully match its depth.
- Which films are like I Smile Back?
- Films with a similar feel include Rachel Getting Married, Shame, and The Lost Weekend.
- How long is I Smile Back?
- I Smile Back runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch I Smile Back?
- In United States, I Smile Back streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
