An Invisible Sign

An Invisible Sign is a 2010 American drama film directed by Marilyn Agrelo and starring Jessica Alba, J. K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Sophie Nyweide, and Bailee Madison. Based on the 2001 novel An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Bender, the film is about a painfully withdrawn young woman who, as a child, turned to math for comfort after her father became ill, and now as an adult, teaches the subject and must help her students through their own crises.
For her performance in the film, Bailee Madison received a 2011 Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a Feature Film. Despite this, the film was panned by critics and grossed $49,859 at the box office.
Plot
Mona Gray (Jessica Alba) systematically withdraws from life into a world of mathematics after a mysterious mental illness leaves her father (John Shea) incapacitated and a shell of his former self. Forced by her mother to move out on her own, Mona gets a job as a math teacher at an elementary school. There she discovers she has an unorthodox talent for teaching and finds herself thrust back into life again, with children to care for, and a reason to live. Mona takes special interest in one of her students, Lisa Venus (Sophie Nyweide), whose mother is dying of cancer.
When fellow teacher Ben Smith (Chris Messina) shows romantic interest in her, Mona reverts to some of her old self-destructive impulses. Eventually, Mona discovers her value in the love she shows her students, and Ben's patience is finally rewarded (which she didn’t owe him in any capacity) as the two find love in each other.
Cast
Jessica Alba as Mona Gray
Chris Messina as Ben Smith
John Shea as Dad
Sônia Braga as Mom
J. K. Simmons as Mr. Jones
Bailee Madison as Young Mona Gray
Sophie Nyweide as Lisa Venus
Donovan Fowler as Levan Beeze
Mackenzie Milone as Ann DiGanno
Jake Richard Siciliano as Elmer Gravlaki
Emerald-Angel Young as Rita Williams
Ian Colletti as Danny O'Mazzi
Marylouise Burke as Ms. Gelband
Joanna P. Adler as Lisa's mom
Ashlie Atkinson as Lisa's Aunt
Crystal Bock as Panida Saleswoman
Stephanie DeBolt as Ellen
Sharon Washington as Levan's Mom
Daniel McDonald as Runny Nose Boy
Ian Blackman as Ann's Dad
Jill Abramovitz as Ann's Mom
Daniel Pearce as Danny's Dad
Lori Hammel as Danny's Mom
Conor Carroll as 5th Grader
Brandon Jeffers as Science Kid #1
Daniel Dugan as Attorney
Blythe Auffarth as Candy Striper
Marin Gazzaniga as Hostess
Bill Coelius as Movie Patron #1
Tom Nonnon as Doctor
Lilly Hartley as Female Runner
Production
Script
Aimee Bender's 2001 novel An Invisible Sign of My Own was adapted for the screen by The Wedding Planner scribes Michael Ellis and Pamela Falk.
Filming locations
Steiner Studios, 15 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Tarrytown, New York, USA
Release
A test screening was shown at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station, New York. The film premiered at the 18th Hamptons International Film Festival on October 7, 2010. It was released through video on demand on April 1, 2011, and premiered in theaters on May 6, 2011.
Reception
The film was universally panned by critics upon release. , the film holds a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on fifteen reviews with an average rating of 3.05/10, including mentions to the film's "boredom" and singling out both Alba's performance and Agrelo's direction.
See also
List of films about mathematicians
References
External links
2010 drama films
2010 films
American drama films
Films based on American novels
Films shot in New York City
Films set in New York City
Films directed by Marilyn Agrelo
2010s English-language films
2010s American films