The writing, producing, directing, and acting team formed by the brothers Mark and Jay Duplass has become a quiet force over the last two decades. While much of their early work was often pigeonholed into the “Mumblecore” (a term I’ve never liked, which can fairly be stated as referring to films that sound like real people talking) genre, they’ve lasted past that erroneous distinction to make some of the best movies and TV of the last twenty years. Whether separate or together, the Duplass Brothers have been involved in terrific projects like The Morning Show, Bombshell, Tully, Togetherness, Wild Wild Country, Dying for Sex, Tangerine, The Skeleton Twins, and Safety Not Guaranteed, to name a few.
Their latest production is the low-key but ultimately stirring documentary Between the Mountain and the Sky. I say low-key because, as directed by Jeremy Power Regimbal, the film sneaks up on you. Regimbal doesn’t bother to pander to your heartstrings; he simply presents the story of Maggie Doyne, a CNN Hero who went on a student trip to Nepal and decided to stay and adopt more than fifty young Nepalese refugees. Regimbal’s subtle technique lets Doyne’s uplifting and heartbreaking story creep up on you until your throat catches and your eyes well, as the power of Doyne’s work and life accumulate into a striking look at a humanitarian whose efforts go far above and beyond.
Between the Mountain and the Sky is a raw and immediate “You are there” experience. From the ruggedly beautiful rural vista to the humble series of rooms and shelters where Doyne, the children, and the crew operate in one of the poorest countries in the world, watching Doyne keep all the balls in the air is remarkable. Doyne was not trained for this. To watch her maneuver, raise funds, and care for the 50+ children she adopted is one of the most DIY jobs you will ever see. All of these children are victims of a civil war who are being taken care of by a student who becomes a great humanitarian.
Still, there are numerous hardships to manage. The greatest involves the tragic death of one of her youngest children. The loss is so devastating to Doyne that she takes a sabbatical to the States, leaving the children with her co-founder, Tope. While back in the U.S., Doyne meets a kind man named Jeremy and falls in love. There is some trepidation built around the possibility that Doyne might not return, or stay away too long, crippling her commune. Her return (with Jeremy) is very moving.
Doyne talks of her upbringing and the privilege of “being tucked in and feeling safe.” It’s a trenchant reminder that those of us who are not in such difficult conditions can only claim the good fortune of the accident of birth that gave us a home, a family, and security. It’s not like Doyne’s responsibilities are any easier when she returns to Nepal. She has to say goodbye to two of her children, who have grown to college age, and head to the States to attend college. It’s a bittersweet moment that also begs the question, how did Doyne and her team find the time to educate such brilliant children? You find a way, I suppose. Doyne has to jump back into fundraising after her grief. Even something that she is experienced at becomes a trial in this post-sabbatical reset. We see Doyne become nauseous over a trash can, and then summon the strength to give an outstanding speech to the would-be donors before her. She also brings two infants into her camp. One is another Nepalese refugee, the other is her own biological child, whom she brings to bear after a difficult pregnancy.
Between the Mountain and the Sky is a lyrical and affecting film, with a subtle but elegant score that illuminates a mighty love and a sacrifice that most of us could not sustain. While the most churlish may dismiss this film as a white savior story, the story is well-earned. Some people feel a calling to put themselves second and see beyond. They are the best of us. Maggie Doyne is exactly where she’s supposed to be, between the mountain and the sky.
