Reviewed by Eugene Barnes, July 2003

"Stella's Search for Sanity" is a low budget independent production shot (I assume) on digital video. Solange Castro Belcher plays the role of Stella, a woman searching for the perfect therapist.
Stella self-narrates through the film, introducing us to her current therapist, Lynn (played by Maria Bamford), her two previous therapists, her boss, her acting teacher (played by ex-Monkee Peter Tork), and a few friends and family along the way.

Stella is the ultimate space cadet. She glides through the film oblivious to most of her surroundings, often causing unintentional mishaps to others. She aspires to be an actor "as long as I don't have to rehearse or memorize lines." And she temps at a firm whose name she doesn't remember, answers the phone as if it were an object beamed down from a UFO, and otherwise drifts mentally into another dimension.

OK, she's a loser. But she does have one strong ambition: to find the perfect therapist. Her first therapist is a domineering woman who is fond of repeating "affirmations" as a means of building self-esteem. Her second therapist is a man who reads sexual innuendos in the most innocent of body language. And then there is Lynn.

Lynn spends most of Stella's hourly sessions talking about her own life instead of listening to Stella. When Stella suggests that Lynn maybe shouldn't talk so much about her life and instead discuss Stella's problems, Lynn is dumbfounded. When Stella suggests that she cut her sessions to every other week for financial reasons, Lynn tenses and snaps "But that isn't the way I work! I see people once a week. That is how I work!".

Stella's therapists are just as screwed up as she is. And when Stella boldly suggests this idea to Lynn, you get the impression that maybe Stella's true calling is to be a therapist herself.

So, let's get to the important points. Is Maria's performance good? Is the movie worth buying and watching?

Maria is very good. She is much more than a stand up comedian. She has the gift of playing a character just exaggerated enough to produce a humorous caricature, yet stays grounded in believability. And Maria fans, take note -- she speaks in "normal" voice throughout her performance. Is that high childlike speech she uses on and off stage really her normal voice? To me it doesn't matter. Either way, it shows just how well she can get into her role and stay there. Seeing Maria in this brief film just makes me want to see more of her. Are you listening, Hollywood?

So what about the rest of the film? Should you jump on the website and buy a copy?

Here I must be honest. If you watch "Stella's Search for Sanity" expecting a hilarious half-hour of comedy, you will probably be disappointed. This is more of an early draft than a finished product.There is a lot of potential here as well as some truly hilarious lines. Unfortunately the humor is hindered by awkward timing, uneven acting, and a slow-paced editing style.

But don't write off "Stella" entirely... not yet. There is much potential to this unpolished gem. If you don't believe me, go to the "Stella" website and read Stella's blogs. They are wonderful!
I can picture "Stella" turning into one of those comedy series that gets picked up by HBO and wins endless critical praise and little gold statues. It just needs a little more time and work. Just like Stella herself.

If you are a die-hard Maria Bamford fan like me, you might want to buy a copy of "Stella" because 1) new Maria Bamford performances are hard to come by, and 2) this little film could become a collector's item someday.

But if you don't buy the DVD or VHS version of the film, do go to the website and read Stella's blogs. Therein lie the seeds of what could turn into a wonderful comedy masterpiece.