Filmmaker Sharisse Zeroonian’s film Nothing Solid shines a necessary light on Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), a condition that remains largely misunderstood and underdiagnosed. With no proven cause and limited diagnostic clarity, CVS often goes unrecognized, despite the profound impact it can have on those who suffer from it. While more commonly diagnosed in children, the syndrome also affects young adults, manifesting in debilitating episodes that can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. In today’s world, factors such as anxiety, stress, and allergies have been shown to trigger CVS in some individuals, yet many unknowns remain in this underreported condition—underscoring the urgent need for greater medical awareness, research, and compassionate clinical recognition.
The feature film is a fictionalized account drawn from Zeroonian’s own experiences navigating CVS and advocating for herself within a medical system ill-equipped to diagnose or effectively treat her symptoms. Serving as writer, director, producer, and editor, Zeroonian crafts a story that unfolds like an extended inner therapy session. The narrative follows Nikki (Sharisse Zeroonian), a twenty-five-year-old woman grappling with anxiety, family pressures, and the uneasy transition into adulthood. Having recently moved out of her parents’ home with the help of her friend Jack (Roderick Wilmore), Nikki attempts to assert her independence while confronting the realities of living on her own.
At the recommendation of her physician, Dr. Conrad (Jacqui Denski), Nikki begins meeting with psychiatrist Dr. Miller (Russ Gannon) in an effort to better understand her psychological state. Gannon delivers a stoic, grounded performance that balances dry humor with emotional restraint, providing a measured counterpoint to Zeroonian’s more vulnerable portrayal. As Nikki works to become less emotionally and financially dependent on her parents, her physical condition repeatedly undermines her progress. Just as she appears to make a breakthrough in therapy, a severe setback reveals how CVS can have devastating consequences for her professional aspirations and hard-won sense of independence.
Her parents, Ani (Louise Mara) and her father (James LaBonte), along with her friend and church co-worker Tamar (Julie DeStefano), form a well-meaning support system—one that underscores both the care surrounding Nikki and the limitations of that support when illness remains unresolved.
The lighting and cinematography in several of the medical scenes are intentionally stark, drained of color and warmth, reinforcing the clinical coldness of Nikki’s experience. However, some of these sequences linger longer than necessary, and the film would benefit from tighter editing to maintain momentum. At times, the film attempts to inject humor into otherwise serious situations, using levity as a means of connecting with the audience and softening the weight of the subject matter. While this tonal shift is not always seamless, it ultimately serves the film’s broader goal: raising awareness of a complex, little-understood, and deeply serious illness. The script balances a sophisticated sense of self-awareness with intense, unpolished sequences that portray Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome with raw realism.
Zeroonian’s performance is quirky and witty, marked by an appealing eccentricity as her character repeatedly softens serious moments with snappy one-liners that function as a defense mechanism. The audience is invited to feel genuine sympathy for Nikki’s medical struggles and to engage with her journey as a means of better understanding the condition itself. At times, however, the dialogue can feel emotionally distant, leaving viewers uncertain about how to respond.
The film attempts to raise awareness for this serious medical condition that impacts the lives of many children and young adults. At its core, Nothing Solid asks what lies beneath Nikki’s illness, and puts the audience on an uplifting journey of self-improvement. Anxiety plays a role, but so do unresolved conflicts with her parents, the pressures of moving out, work-related stress, and a broader resistance to growing up. Audiences will see first-hand what happens when her mental and physical health is stretched to the breaking point. In the spirit of self-reflection, Nikki is motivated to confront the people and life choices contributing to her distress or be held captive by her condition.
