NowamajormotionpicturestarringAmandaSeyfried.ComparedtoseminalfeministworkssuchasCharlottePerkinsGilman’s“TheYellowWallpaper“andSylviaPlath’sTheBellJar,AMouthfulofAirisapowerful,tragicstatementonmotherhood,family,andsurvival.AMouthfulofAirisacompassionateandwrenchingportraitofJulieDavis,ayoungwifeandmothertornbetweentheloveshefeelsforherfamilyandthevoiceinherheadthatinsiststhey’dbebetteroffwithouther.WemeetJulieseveralweeksafterhersuicideattempt,ontheeveofherson’sfirstbirthday.Gratefultobealive,Julietriesherbesttoappreciateeverymoment--“thistree,thatpassingcar,thepretzelguyupaheadonthecorner.Shehas,forwhateverreason,beengivenasecondchance“--butheremotionaldemonsareunrelenting,andsheisslowlyandquietlylosingthebattle.WithinthenarrativeofAMouthfulofAirisanargumentaboutthenatureofdepression--itscauses,cures,andthepriceitexactsfromitsvictims.Withspare,elegantprose,thisbrutallyhonestportrayaloffamilyandselfilluminatesthepowerandcomplexityofthehumanpsyche.Originallypublishedin2003,AMouthfulofAirnowincludesanafterwordbyauthorAdrienneMiller.
