Photo courtesy mubi.com
I had a great time at the LA Film Festival tonight, it was less hectic than Opening Night last Thursday, and I was getting my bearings more, too. I went to the Grammy Museum at LA Live, then went to dinner, then to a screening of Concussion (reviewed below), and finally ended up at the Filmmakers Lounge taking pictures and talking to filmmakers, cinematographers, etc. for a while. Fantastic! Lots more photos on my Flickr page here: Joy's Flickr.
REVIEW OF CONCUSSION
Directed by Stacie Passon
© 2013 Joy Bennett
Los Angeles Film Festival, June 19, 2013
Concussion, writer/director Stacie Passon’s directorial debut, is a very impressive first film. It’s the story of a long-term married couple that happens to be two women, with kids, a minivan, bills, two jobs, and all the other trappings of modern life. However, after a mild concussion, one of the women starts to stray into a sexual no-woman’s land, with strange, erotic, and potentially shattering consequences.
This is a beautiful film, directed and acted with subtlety and naturalness. It effortlessly shows when people act out sexually, it’s often not an act of love, but of desperate pain and longing.
The performances are all flawless. It’s as if we are watching real life happen before our eyes. It’s slow and meditative, but revealingly honest and sensual, to the point of the courageously honest sexuality of Sex, Lies and Videotape. The lead actress, Robin Weigert, gives a tour de force performance that will likely make indy stars out of everyone involved. Look for more from this group, this film is effortlessly incandescent.
By turns subtle, funny, wise and sad, you will remember Concussion long after you’ve heard the last notes of the music, also excellent.
Directed by Stacie Passon
© 2013 Joy Bennett
Los Angeles Film Festival, June 19, 2013
Concussion, writer/director Stacie Passon’s directorial debut, is a very impressive first film. It’s the story of a long-term married couple that happens to be two women, with kids, a minivan, bills, two jobs, and all the other trappings of modern life. However, after a mild concussion, one of the women starts to stray into a sexual no-woman’s land, with strange, erotic, and potentially shattering consequences.
This is a beautiful film, directed and acted with subtlety and naturalness. It effortlessly shows when people act out sexually, it’s often not an act of love, but of desperate pain and longing.
The performances are all flawless. It’s as if we are watching real life happen before our eyes. It’s slow and meditative, but revealingly honest and sensual, to the point of the courageously honest sexuality of Sex, Lies and Videotape. The lead actress, Robin Weigert, gives a tour de force performance that will likely make indy stars out of everyone involved. Look for more from this group, this film is effortlessly incandescent.
By turns subtle, funny, wise and sad, you will remember Concussion long after you’ve heard the last notes of the music, also excellent.