More of a comedy than a drama but wholly about drama, Unpacking is a film by and for women that everyone should appreciate. If all that sounds tangled, it’s because that’s the point. Directors Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott’s Unpacking is about what happens on the Woman Soul Reset Retreat in Bali with six women led by influencer and wellness guru Keri Hart (Sam Bianchini) and her yogi sidekick influencer Ni Ketut (Dania Arancha). As it turns out, Keri actually needs a retreat, not lead one.
Set in the beautiful environs of Bali, Unpacking gathers a group of women who all want some reset, so when Jackie (Jessica Rotondi) and two sisters, Ruby (Alexandra Clayton) and Charlotte (Michal Sinnott), also the co-directors and -writers of Unpacking, and Eithne (Stephanie Ann Whited) and Alice (Katie Braden) come together the group not only helps each other but they “unpack” their issues and reset.
Immediately, there is the resilient one, Eithne. The silent “th” in her name is a giveaway for her issues. Her partner was supposed to join her, but in an effort for Eithne to become a better person does not make the trip. Causing friction to the point of driving Keri away, Eithne eventually breaks her brash and unapproving nature. Eithne’s roommate Jacki, the glue of the retreat and a bit of a rebel, has a tryst with Happy (Gandhi Fernando), a “kuta cowboy,” a Bali man who seduces women without commitment. He happens to be the only male player in the film. Sisters Ruby and Charlotte must make peace with each other and themselves concerning their health, motherhood, and family. And Alice is the one who needs to unleash herself.

“As it turns out, Keri actually needs a retreat, not lead one.”
The ladies journal, meditate, practice yoga, perform rituals, participate in ceremonies, and eventually break out of their heavy prisons of emotional distress—being fountains, not drums. As tensions and emotions bubble over while the group’s leader falls apart with a panic attack and leaves, the retreat is left in the hands of Ni Ketut, who must rise to the occasion and reality beyond existing in her meta world of a princess influencer. After Keri’s abandonment, she happens to get rescued by Happy.
Divorce, bad relationships, egos, obstacles, self-deprecation, and so much more are all brought into the open for these chosen women to confront. There are moments discussing the pain of pregnancy and its physical damage, bouts of drunkenness, and forgiveness. And there are spirit animals, essence, masks, and feathers, too. As it all may sound very ridiculous, change occurs, and not without humor.
Unpacking is not a long, drawn-out ordeal. It’s fun, it’s female, and it’s enjoyable especially set in a paradise that is Bali. The film’s structure is thoughtful, especially the soundtrack, and, for the most part, its characters are believable. Although comments on indigenous cultural rituals are made, these are slightly ironic since the film is really about middle-class white women’s problems.