A blessing indeed this little piece: a wholesome story nicely told. And as a change from the mainline razzmatazz US productions, this is a rather hushed down production, which it would easily be possible to miss out on if you are not aware of the quality of this sensible and sensitive film.
Perhaps neither River Pheonix nor Lili Taylor would ever walk the red carpet into the Kodak Theatre: perhaps neither of them are anything like being `brilliant' actors. And that is precisely where the film scores: both believed in the project, Nancy Savoca became enthused with her directing, and the result is a highly recommendable film.
In 1963 I was 18: that is old enough to have records by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary old mono LPs which I still have today. Ms. Savoca with studious deliberation prepared her scenes I think maybe in Oakland rather than in Seattle or San Francisco, maybe and the music admirably completed the setting, even with fragments of `Wimoweh' in the original Weavers' recording.
This is good film-making, of the kind which I have often thought that only here in Europe could be made; so much gratitude to Ms. Savoca for showing us that sometimes the US can make sincere little stories that really work.
I will see this film again, one day I hope.
Perhaps neither River Pheonix nor Lili Taylor would ever walk the red carpet into the Kodak Theatre: perhaps neither of them are anything like being `brilliant' actors. And that is precisely where the film scores: both believed in the project, Nancy Savoca became enthused with her directing, and the result is a highly recommendable film.
In 1963 I was 18: that is old enough to have records by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary old mono LPs which I still have today. Ms. Savoca with studious deliberation prepared her scenes I think maybe in Oakland rather than in Seattle or San Francisco, maybe and the music admirably completed the setting, even with fragments of `Wimoweh' in the original Weavers' recording.
This is good film-making, of the kind which I have often thought that only here in Europe could be made; so much gratitude to Ms. Savoca for showing us that sometimes the US can make sincere little stories that really work.
I will see this film again, one day I hope.