Watch Extra Innings

Extra Innings, a 2019 feature film, follows the life of 20-year-old David Sabah, played by Aidan Pierce Brennan, as he grapples with his family's history of mental illness, complex grief, and the dualities of his identity. Set in the 1960s in Brooklyn, New York, David is getting ready to play ball for the semi-pro Brooklyn Cyclones when the death of his Aunt Nessa, played by Geraldine Singer, sends him spiraling.

David's Aunt Nessa was a Holocaust survivor who suffered from schizophrenia, and her death reopens wounds in the Sabah family that have been festering for years. With his father Joe, played by Robby Ramos, still struggling with the loss of his sister, David takes on the responsibility of uncovering the truth about their family's history and helping his father finally come to with their grief.

As he delves into his family's secrets, David is forced to confront the complex relationship he has with himself. He is a talented baseball player, but he also has a ion for music that he's been hiding from his family. David is questioning his sexuality as well and considering the ramifications of coming out to his family, a fear he shares with his friend Reuven, played by Alex Walton.

The film explores the Sabah family dynamics through a mix of flashbacks and present-day scenes. We see Aunt Nessa during her younger years, flashbacks that reveal painful family secrets, including the fate of David's grandfather, an Auschwitz survivor. The writing, directing, and acting all hit a great stride to captivate their audience and elevate the story, giving depth to the characters and even the ing strangers that they meet along the way.

Extra Innings brings on a feast for the eyes with visually stunning scenes juxtaposed against the difficult emotions in the story. The 1960s period setting is excellent and captures the period's style and mood, bringing to life the streets of Brooklyn, the Cyclone's theater, and the Sabah's apartment. The music in the film is also effectively used, with pieces like "All Along the Watchtower" and "Summertime" that serve as devices to accent the story's peak emotional moments.

At its core, Extra Innings is a poignant story that ultimately shows how to overcome grief, confront the complexities of identity, and embrace difference. As David navigates his complex family dynamics, he learns the importance of blending his two ions, baseball and music, into something unique and transformative for himself. As the film ends, so does the story. After all, some stories have no ending -- the people in the story keep on living their lives long after the director yells, "Cut!"

Extra Innings is a well-done movie about the tribulations of life that grip us every day. It is a relatable film to anyone who has had to navigate the nuances and dualities of their own identity, in overcoming grief, and embracing one's true ion. Anyone who seeks a movie that portrays family duality, the impact of mental illness, and the convoluting search for one's identity will equally appreciate the film. Extra Innings is a story that evokes a sense of empathy for the complexity of the human spirit through its storytelling and acting.