Danielle Solzman
While the concept is all too often lost in love stories on screen, Two in the Bush: A Love Story puts the polyamorous relationship front and center.
When it comes to romantic comedies, it is never a good sign when somebody comes home early from work. You can always assume that the worst is about to happen. This is the case when aspiring documentary filmmaker Emily (Sarah Mitchell) comes home early. Sure enough, Emily arrives home to find girlfriend Kate (Adriana Leonard) is sleeping with Peter (Mike Schminke). With no choice but to move out, Emily moves in with best friend Rosa (Melissa DuPrey). All Emily can do is make the best of an otherwise terrible situation.
Before too long, Emily finds herself working for Nikki (Caitlin Aase). Nikki isn’t just any ordinary employer but a dominatrix. It’s quite the adjustment in this new work environment. Before doing this, Emily had been working as an assistant to a documentary filmmaker. Anyway, Emily soon finds herself falling not only for Nikki but Nikki’s boyfriend, Ben (Travis Delgado). As is the case with any relationship on screen, there comes the breaking point where you know someone is about to end things. It’s one of those beats that you can see coming a mile away. What we don’t know for sure is whether or not things will be able to resolve itself. Is this a relationship that Emily is truly able to take on? She’s the one who must dig deep into her heart and know for sure.
Filmmaker Laura Madalinski pours her heart and soul into the film and the results show. Actress Sarah Mitchell is more than capable in taking on the leading role as Emily in her first feature film. Not many films are able to pull off a feature of this magnitude with ten days to shoot and under $50,000 to produce. The Chicago-set film is a solid directorial debut for the filmmaker.
If there’s any hope, Two in the Bush will certainly validate one’s own life experiences. This is the beauty of film and telling the stories that don’t get told. One thing is for certain: polyamorous stories do not get told enough. Two in the Bush joins Professor Marston and The Wonder Women as being the only films that I can recall with such a story being depicted on screen. Everyone deserves to find love even if it is a situation in which people are traditionally used to seeing.
DIRECTOR: Laura Madalinski
SCREENWRITERS: Kelly Haas & Laura Madalinski
CAST: Sarah Mitchell, Travis Delgado, Caitlin Aase, Melissa DuPrey
