Carving A Life (2017) User Reviews

Carving of romance and emotions......Satisfied.....

[kashidomar · 7/10 · 20 October 2017]

Romantic movies always generate a lot of emotions and memories from past in the audience. This movie is also same. A very good combination of love,touches, despair, destruction and bondage of human life. The story starts with the relationship of a young couple as they desperately loves each other. They were flying through their mind with lot of emotions exhibited everywhere in the park, road, home courtyard,hotel, beaches etc. Their life and affair was going perfectly with no obstacles.

But soon the cloud appeared as the actor became addicted with alcohol. He discovered some facts about his past and that drives him into frustration. He is separated from the girl and liqour became his girlfriend.But soon he has to choose one between alcohol and his beloved girlfriend. You have to wait until the climax to see the result.

The chemistry between them is awesome. They have acted like a good couple of young age..explosive with their actions and attractions..nice to see such romances..The overall sequence of the movie is also very clear, so the audience will have to sit and enjoy.

Some portion of the movie creates some sort of complaints. Like the director tried to make it a combination of mystery and romance but that never really helped the course of it.

But overall a good romantic drama....

There is human drama in this all too real indie

[baccaruda1 · 7/10 · 15 May 2022]

The plot points of this film hit on some very genuine issues that young couples often deal with in new relationships, especially when an enormous secret is involved. Alcohol abuse is central to the narrative and this one felt all too real to for very personal reasons. Any kind of substance abuse can lead to chaos and heartbreak, as this film shows. The story, direction, and narrative are both straight ahead. Boy meets girl, they fall in love and marry, and then life challenges immediately rear their ugly head. While this is definitely not on the level of the horrors found in "Requiem for a Dream", there are genuine lessons to be drawn from "Carving a Life".

Feel gooder with poignant moments of reflection

[tucia · 7/10 · 29 September 2020]

This indie drama has a solid storyline with a great cast that explores the importance of self-worth when it comes to successful relationships in life. The use flashbacks were a creative way to present the significant moments from the character's pasts that informed both the audience and the characters in valuable way that made for an overall feel good movie that's worth a watch.

Great love story with an ending I didn't expect

[johnapplebee-95947 · 10/10 · 29 December 2018]

This was a well written love story that I thought would have a certain ending but they fooled me. I love how u showed the real strength of a woman and she didn't back down. Acting was very good in it. A must see

Drinking Problem

[MayhemFilmKreations · 11 June 2019]

This film really shows the troubles of a young alcoholic man. No matter how bad you want to do right you are held back by addiction and guilt. Not all have a chance or make it out alive that's for sure. Recommended.

Transparent

[fmwongmd · 4/10 · 27 April 2020]

A low budget movie with the story so simple it is transparent.

Touching

[ruddycarpio · 9/10 · 16 January 2019]

A beautiful yet sad story that portrays the overcoming of alcohol addiction. This film captures the essences of strong relationships that forge through rough circumstances. The story has many layers and unexpected twists, with a strong plot and strong character development that will embrace you as the story progress. Overall a great indie gem.

Nice indie gem

[jblockbuster · 8/10 · 1 January 2019]

I really liked the two leads, therefore I was totally drawn into the story when their fairytale love story spirals down. This drama about a couple having to deal with addiction issues and all the terrible effects in can have on a relationship has a very true ring to it, one which everyone possibly can relate to if you replace the addiction with your own relationship issues. The ultimate question, should you leave someone or continue to work on the relationship is the centre of this film and a question possibly everyone has asked themselves at least once in their lifetime.

Nice visuals, a good souundtrack and great directing make this film an indie gem to watch out for.

Touching Indie Drama Anchored By Strong Lead Performances

[dfranklin-41821 · 7/10 · 7 May 2020]

This was a thoughtful and powerful meditation on addiction, and it is largely carried on the shoulders of the two leads, Tyler Bruhn and the stunning Karenssa LeGear, who is, interestingly enough, actually Australian - it's a testament to how good her acting is that her accent never breaks.

Beautiful

[echapman7 · 8/10 · 16 December 2017]

Heartfelt film pulls the viewer in immediately with alluring visuals, likable leads with good on screen chemistry, a strong soundtrack and a feel for how relationships begin, develop and evolve over time. It shows how addiction issues can creep up on a couple and are often not quickly or easily resolved. It somehow pulls off the neat trick of being tightly constructed despite unfolding over several years. The middle section showing the husband's frequent drunken episodes is a bit repetitive, but this is an issue that dogs most movies about addiction. Overall it is a moving story of a loving couple grapping with a serious problem. The two leads are quite good. You will find yourself rooting for them.

Indie film on alcoholism

[Ink789 · 10/10 · 12 September 2019]

I was looking for films tackling addiction, and came across Carving a Life. What a find! Great performances, outstanding filmmaking, and a broadcast quality production. I don't want to give any spoilers, but well worth watching to the end.

Love, alcohol, and life: Quite a mix!

[jason-scepter · 9/10 · 27 September 2019]

Carving A Life is a touching Indie drama about a couple who falls in love and gets married. And where the man, Mitch, further falls into the toxic depth of alcoholism. Thus, making the relationship an unhealthy one, to say the least. The story and characters felt authentic. Great Indie film!

Charming slice of life indie flick.

[vincentjroth · 8/10 · 4 May 2018]

Charming slice of life indie flick. A bit of a romance drama coming of age story - young adults moving into maturity, struggling with true to life issues like alcoholism and starting a family. Very affable and relatable characters. Nice camera work and very good sound quality.

Honest & heartfelt!

[alanakmd · 9/10 · 24 October 2019]

This film takes a very honest look at the toll that addiction can take on a relationship. Very honest perfomances from the leads. Great soundtrack. Thoroughly enjoyed!

a very humane and clear-eyed film

[JoshSegel · 9/10 · 18 February 2019]

This true to life drama handles the subject of alcoholism bravely and with sensitivity. Bolstered by great cinematography and sharp editing, this extremely well written and expertly directed film makes the trajectory of these characters and their relationship believable throughout. The leads share a really nice chemistry with each other, and their genuine performances help make every moment resonate. Every facet of this production is handled with great skill. The whole team should be proud of the beautiful and authentic film that they created.

Toxic Love or Authenticity?

[alexanderhanno · 8/10 · 30 December 2018]

In their latest piece, director Terry Ross and writer Lisa Bruhn present a young couple navigating the trials of adult life as they work to sort out their own baggage and plan for a future neither was quite expecting. Aside from the meet cute and the romantic opening act, most of the film depicts a rather toxic relationship (largely at the expense of Lauren and due to the actions of the alcoholic Mitch) to - sadly, perhaps - much success. The filmmakers have clearly experienced similar relationships and imbue their characters with authenticity throughout. As such, at times it feels like this couple should just part ways, but the spark between them makes it hard to not root for them to sort things out. By the end of it all, you can't help feeling that this is true life and that every relationship has it's problems to work through, some more intense than others. Sure it would be much easier to run away, but do you lose more than you gain by doing so? "A Carving Life" examines this question and offers some input, but ultimately leaves viewers with much to think on after the credits finish.

Charming, uplifting and sometimes tragic.

[Anmer93 · 9/10 · 27 July 2019]

A charming, uplifting and sometimes tragic depiction of the highs and lows of a relationship. The film is very natural in the way it is shot, with a lovely chemistry between its central characters who give excellent performances. Get your tissues ready and enjoy.

CARVING A LIFE is a really nice indie find!

[ryanbartongrimley · 9/10 · 27 November 2017]

CARVING A LIFE is a really nice indie find! It deals with the very real problem of addiction in a non- cliché way rather than veering off into Melodrama like so many films before it. The camera work is awesome and professional and the editing is super creative and non-linear. The cast is also really strong, especially the leads. Performances this strong keep you in the story and make it feel very powerful. If you've ever dealt with friends or family with addiction problems and issues like these, this film will really resonate with you. Great work!

Wonderful feel good film

[cbax123 · 8/10 · 21 October 2019]

This is one of those Hallmark films that just makes you feel good. It gives you the heart warming feeling that love can conquer all, which is something I think we all need a bit of from time to time. It's really well filmed with a nice soundtrack.

A touching indie drama

[JGReviews · 9/10 · 8 February 2019]

Carving a Life is a touching drama about a young man, Mitch, who falls in love and marries his girlfriend, Lauren. Their idyllic relationship soon starts to unravel as Mitch displays a worsening drinking problem that starts to destroy his life. Mitch must deal with a tragedy in his past so that he can overcome his alcoholism and repair his marriage before their son is born.

The film reminded me in some ways of A Star is Born, which is a big compliment, and I think a lot of other viewers will feel the same connection. The young lead actors are talented and carry the film. The soundtrack is also quite good and there's a song that I particularly liked later in the film. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Navid Negahban, Abu Nazir from TV's Homeland, in a small role in the film. Ultimately, Carving a Life is a very well made drama about overcoming addiction, confronting your past, and mending your relationships. I would highly recommend Carving a Life to everyone.

Real Life well told

[jimlewisjr · 9/10 · 17 April 2020]

The writing and dialog in this film is very believable and progresses logically as the story is told. The music is really great and flows seamlessly around a number of emotional scenes. The characters are engaging and you will laugh and cry with them. Beyond the story there is the chance this film will help others.

Good film that looks at the challenges of navigating a loving relationship.

[williamgway · 9/10 · 10 April 2020]

A surprise. A wonderful love story about addiction, redemption and finding what is important in life. It is well acted and the lead actors carry the film. It is in the Hallmark genre, and that is a compliment. It is at it's heart a relationship movie and it does this well. It is also about alcohol addiction and how that can break apart even the strongest of bonds. This works well.

This is a great stay at home (and aren't we all these days) movie. Good story, well acted and filmed.

Lifetime style drama

[andrewtschroeder · 8/10 · 21 April 2020]

Carving a Life is a Lifetime style drama about alchohol addiction ruining the relationship of a carpenter and a teacher. At first I was surprised by how fast the relationship between the two moved, but thats because the real meat of the story is about the husband's addiction problems which aren't really as apparent until after they get married. For people who've faced similar problems in real life this film is sure to tug at your heartstrings.

Realistic Approach

[wjaywill · 8/10 · 20 April 2020]

Carving a Life takes a realistic approach to addiction and romance, and especially how one affects the other. It is a wonderfully told story with decent acting all around. It is not the sort of film I would typically go for, but I definitely enjoyed it and we recommend it to others.

Thoughtful, emotional, and compelling

[JCanni68 · 9/10 · 10 April 2020]

What begins as a Hallmark-like film elevates itself with a thoughtful exploration on alcoholism, fatherhood, responsibility and past hurts. These topics are explored thoughtfully which make for an engaging film that is well acted and well shot, and ultimately a satisfying, emotional experience.