Self-inflicted pain, self-harm is a challenging theme to your story. Some deep thinking philosophers would even categorize that all pain is self-chosen. A sort of self-fulfilled prophecy. The first line of lyrics from the song “River of Deceit” by Mad Season summarizes for me by saying “my pain is self-chosen, at least, so the prophet says.”.  Self-harm may arise from simply that one person is struggling to find a solution, or from one that is getting pleasure from it. It is a delicate subject that many are dealing with. Rounding , at its core, is about self-harm and self-punishment. Putting a spotlight on a subject that is rarely a focal point.  Showing that if you carry-on with it, it will manifest monsters and hauntings.

Rounding was made in 2022 and finally available to us in February. Written and directed by Alex Thompson along with his brother Christopher Thompson. Uniquely, it is made without his wife-partner that collaborated with him in “Saint Frances” and last year’s hidden gem darling, “Ghostlight” Kelly O’ Sullivan.  In all three films have casted many actors from the Chicago area. A pipeline line for Alex and his team that has provided a wealth of talent to the screen for their films. Providing a limited opportunity to be in film for them being a far from Hollywood.   

In this we follow James Hayman, marvelous played by Namir Smallwood, who moves to Greenville to complete his residency.  A clever juxtaposition in the story that he is arriving in the dead of winter. James is hesitant, timid, and in recovery from a mistake at a big-city hospital, and most notably all alone in his journey. No friends nor family are checking in with him; which might explain why his bedside manners are ratchet. James is haunted, monsters are lurking in the shadows, and he is pounding away his troubles by jogging to the point of physical harm. Eventually, he comes across a teen named Helen, who is chronically hospitalized by a mysterious illness. James takes it upon himself to figure out why even if not everyone wants him to. A crusade that either leads Jame to more horrors, or may spark a new positive way of dealing with problems, professionally or personally. 

With beautiful cinematography and great camera angle choices Rounding is a somber melodramatic nightmare that stews around in the trappings of a t.v. doctor drama, an eloquent contrast. In fact, each faucet in this is a contrast. In the setting, characters, and even the motifs, which makes it work so well. Rounding is another solid film from Alex and Kelly, and I hope to continue with their style and challenging subjects.  Rounding shows us that if you can’t heal yourself, you are no way capable of healing others.