Like Beautiful Boy and Ben Is Back, Jake Allyn’s Clean Hands deals with the helplessness of parents whose teenager struggles with addiction. It also highlights the shortcomings and inequities within the justice and healthcare systems.
It is based on the true story of the Simmers family, played by Zach Braff, Esther McGregor, and Abigail Spencer. As expected, it is a difficult watch, but a captivating one from beginning to end. McGregor blew me away as Brooke, who is fighting her demons to survive while desperately trying not to be a disappointment to her father. Braff is convincing in a role unlike those he is usually known for as the narcotics cop, who is determined to save his daughter.
Allyn, who also wrote the script, does not attempt to take big swings with the material and lets the story and the performances speak for themselves.
Kevin and Dana Simmers were in the audience at the screening I attended. Braff was very emotional talking across from them during the entirety of the Q&A. You could tell that the project meant a lot to him.
It was just announced that Vertical picked up the film for a North American release. One third of the film’s profits will go to the non-profit, all-women recovery home the Simmers had opened. For those in NYC, there is also one more festival screening on June 11.
