Getting misty-eyed just from reading your summary, you perfectly nailed down everything I love about this movie.
I think it's easy for movies with similar trauma-care themes to feel kind of shallow and oscar-bait-y, but something about Short Term 12 is very different and special. I think you're right that a lot of the heart and intimacy within comes from the all-too-real performances from the cast.
Absolutely gut-wrenching, can't stand to watch it more than once every ~7 years, but it is worth the wait every time.
Getting misty-eyed just from reading your summary, you perfectly nailed down everything I love about this movie.
I think it's easy for movies with similar trauma-care themes to feel kind of shallow and oscar-bait-y, but something about Short Term 12 is very different and special. I think you're right that a lot of the heart and intimacy within comes from the all-too-real performances from the cast.
Absolutely gut-wrenching, can't stand to watch it more than once every ~7 years, but it is worth the wait every time.