In Hannah Marks’ rendition of "Turtles All the Way Down", Aza Holmes, the anxious protagonist, portrayed by Isabela Merced, is constantly tormented by the undying concern for bacteria and their potential to cause infections. An obsessive fixation spirals around a recurring wound on her middle finger, catalyzing waves of worry about contamination and safety.
The film, steeped in Merced's portrayal of anxiety and OCD, unveils the complex turmoil of navigating high school while grappling with such conditions. Reflecting an adaptation of John Green's novel by the same name, it offers a poignant depiction of Aza's journey through grief, reconnection with an estranged friend, and the daunting task of understanding the impact of her mental health struggles on her immediate relationships.
"Marks' 'Turtles All the Way Down', scripted by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker, opens with the search for a runaway billionaire, Russell Pickett, a scientist facing prosecution. Roiled in her own torments, Aza finds herself entangled in this quest when her best friend, Daisy, connives a plan during their regular Applebee's lunches to secure the $100,000 bounty. Aza, having once spent a summer with the fugitive's son, Davis (Mallard), at a grief retreat, is urged to recall pertinent details about the family.
However, much against Aza's 'Holmes' namesake, the pursuit of the runaway billionaire isn't the film's primary concern. Rather than walking down the path of detective stories, it shifts gears, focusing instead on Aza's mental turmoil and her rekindled bond with Davis. Though the underdeveloped characterization of Davis detracts from the authenticity of their central love story, the narrative manages to stay afloat.
But the focus isn't restrained to being just a tale of young romance and takes a deep dive into Aza's troubled mental landscape. Marks skillfully foregrounds Aza’s interior world, veering towards an unconventional narrative technique characterized by quick scene transitions and close-ups on growing bacterial cultures, enveloping the audience in Aza's claustrophobic reality. The haunting score and Merced's grounded performance further accentuate the apprehensive atmosphere. In-depth discussions between Aza and her psychiatrist (Poorna Jagannathan) offer a better understanding of her condition and the dichotomy that grips it.
Aza's scenes with her mother and Daisy expose the rawness of her reality, especially her connections with Daisy, which serve as potent moments in the narrative. Despite the film's occasional shortcomings, "Turtles All the Way Down" fundamentally shines in how it shows Aza's struggle with longing for 'normality', ultimately shedding light on the importance of valuing the present.
