Pippa Lee wakes up one morning to find her kitchen ravaged, as if someone had broken in during the night. It was the first sign of the horror she would come to know. Her tortured past had driven her crazy.

“The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” is the story of a woman who comes to terms with her troubled life for a chance at a normal future. An unsettling film, it is filled with moments that leave the audience unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Initially, Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) seems to be put together and a relatively typical wife and mother. The explanation for her current mental problems is revealed as the story flashes back to her past, where she spends her early life trying to  connect with her mother. These struggles eventually lead Pippa to leave home as a teenager.

The film is completely Rebecca Miller’s creation,  as she adapted the screenplay from her novel of the same name and directed the film. The screenplay is told through insightful dialogue from characters with depth.

Penn effectively portrays the dynamics and underlying vulnerability of the character as Pippa changes from moments of apparent stability to total lack of control, forming the heart of the story. In flashbacks, Blake Lively captures the teenage Pippa’s sense of loss so well that it becomes almost uncomfortable to watch.

Keanu Reeves is known for playing emotionless characters, such Neo in “The Matrix” and Don John in “Much Ado About Nothing.” In this film, though, Reeves works well as Chris, a 35-year-old recluse living alone with his adoptive parents. Reeves uses his subtle acting style to create a stoic character who gradually shows signs of compassion and provides hope despite the characters’ tainted pasts.

The appearance of the film is reminiscent of the 1990s, with low lighting and minimal special effects creating a realistic while slightly haunting picture. The scenes are shot from the perspective of a close-by observer or even a participant, giving the audience the sense of being a part of the conversations.

“The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” is effective as an independent film with a chilling message. Its greatest strengths come from strong acting, insightful characters and cinematography, creating intimacy that haunts the audience.

“The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” was written and directed by Rebecca Miller.