This was a touching story, well laid out and professionally shot. It had the ear marks of an independant film, however for a low budget production it was probably the finest I have seen to date. The actor who played the Father (Peter Mehren) brought out the true essence of this film and his performance was that of someone far ahead of the low budget class of films. I expect to see this actor in mainstream cinema soon!
2 Reviews
An Under-Rated, Subtle Family Drama
dohiyi26 September 2006
I really enjoyed this film. Unfortunately I only happened across it because a friend who loved it had recorded it off of Bravo a few years back and decided to show it to me. Where has it disappeared to, and why haven't more people seen it? I don't know the answer, but I highly recommend it to all who enjoy well written and visually engaging family drama.
The drama itself is subtle and understated, but evokes all the turmoil and beauty involved in revisiting family when one hasn't entirely outgrown them. All the acting is capable, but the three brothers are really the strongest in the film. Matt Nolan is wonderful as Taylor, a young man returning to face a father he loves but has never been able to connect with. Dylan Neal (Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Dawson's Creek) shows himself capable of real subtlety as the older over-achieving brother who long ago stole and married Taylor's sweetheart. Lastly, hitherto unknown Brian Frank steals the film with his portrayal of the somewhat lost, youngest brother who is still at home and trying to follow his dreams of being a musician while living with his disapproving parents. The interplay between the three is in many ways the heart of the movie.
Writer and director, Andrew Humeniuk, knows just how to accent these relationships visually, making some unusual and often breathtaking choices. Interestingly, I actually felt there were moments in the movie when the way it was shot was actually meant to increase the audiences physical discomfort in ways that mirrored the emotional discomfort felt by the characters. And it worked! I did a search for Humeniuk on here and haven't found anything. If anyone knows if he's still in the business either writing or directing I'd be interested in seeing anything else he's done. The Cinematographer, Jay Fergeson is also to be commended for the visual poetry of the film.
At any rate, enjoy. I think Amazon still carries the film if you want to check it out!
The drama itself is subtle and understated, but evokes all the turmoil and beauty involved in revisiting family when one hasn't entirely outgrown them. All the acting is capable, but the three brothers are really the strongest in the film. Matt Nolan is wonderful as Taylor, a young man returning to face a father he loves but has never been able to connect with. Dylan Neal (Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Dawson's Creek) shows himself capable of real subtlety as the older over-achieving brother who long ago stole and married Taylor's sweetheart. Lastly, hitherto unknown Brian Frank steals the film with his portrayal of the somewhat lost, youngest brother who is still at home and trying to follow his dreams of being a musician while living with his disapproving parents. The interplay between the three is in many ways the heart of the movie.
Writer and director, Andrew Humeniuk, knows just how to accent these relationships visually, making some unusual and often breathtaking choices. Interestingly, I actually felt there were moments in the movie when the way it was shot was actually meant to increase the audiences physical discomfort in ways that mirrored the emotional discomfort felt by the characters. And it worked! I did a search for Humeniuk on here and haven't found anything. If anyone knows if he's still in the business either writing or directing I'd be interested in seeing anything else he's done. The Cinematographer, Jay Fergeson is also to be commended for the visual poetry of the film.
At any rate, enjoy. I think Amazon still carries the film if you want to check it out!
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