Local Color

I saw a rough cut of this film a while back and was deeply moved by its simple beauty and meditative pace.

The performances have so much depth and take the diverse characters to a level that must have moved even the writer/director and producers.

It is also surprisingly funny, well not surprisingly, but when you read terms like "deeply moved" or "meditatve pace" you might *surprisingly* find yourself laughing out loud...a lot...

This is a feel good movie without being forced to feel good...it is an unfolding story with the heart and soul of the writer/director, producers, crew and cast made available to us, the audience, to take, relate and in our own way, give back...

Most of the time when I see a film, I instantly forget about it the minute I walk out the theater door. This movie is different. It's been three weeks now since I've seen "Local Color" and I can't stop thinking about it. There are scenes so poignant that I can still hear the dialogue echoing in my head. There's a scene in particular early on in the film when the old painter looks up to the sky and asks his young protégé, "What color are the clouds? You think that they're white, but look again". Since seeing this film, I too find myself looking around me, analyzing the color and beautiful nuances of life. This film has honestly changed the way I look at things.

Furthermore, this film is very funny. The humor is very human and it takes you by surprise. I laughed out loud a lot. I love this film.

I worked in post on Local Color. I took the job at a greatly reduced fee. I must have cried 10 times watching the rough cut with no music. Afterwards, I felt like telling the producers I would work for free on this one, but, alas, I couldn't afford to do so. This is one of the most moving films I have every seen. Tears of joy come to me every time I even think about or tell some one of this film (and as I write). I am a musician and artist. The ideas of this film resonate so deeply within me that I felt that I could have written it myself. I was told that Armin, after much urging, came out of retirement to do this. Having read the script he said "This is what I've always wanted to say". As for those who posted so negatively on this film, remember, right at the beginning of the film - "You are warned, this is not a story for cynics". Yes, it is sentimental, but the film defends that too. Sentiment and art are what make us human.

It has been a long time since I have seen a movie with as much integrity and honesty. As the writer so aptly states in the opening of the movie: this is a movie for romantics not critics.

When I hear someone trash a film or is angry about something the first question I ask is "what are they afraid of?". It IS easy to be cavalier and self serving. It is much more difficult to truly speak from the heart.

The characters are real...the performances excellent. The script is brilliant. There are so many gems...words of wisdom that it is hard to remember them all.

What I like most about this movie is that it is completely unapologetic. It takes courage to let it all hang out.

Perhaps if our culture was more in tune with nature and less about cynicism and ego we would all be better off.

I would highly recommend this movie to everyone.

These days we have movies that hurl us into outer space, throw us into life threatening situations laden with violence and hysteria, or filled with so many amazing special effects that one cannot tell what is real and what is not. George Gallo's newest film, LOCAL COLOR offers none of the above. Not that I don't love the Wachowski Brothers or enjoy peaking into the twisted, creative mind of Quentin Tarantino. I do. But for countless reasons having to do with the state of the world today, I think that most of us long for this kind of "entertainment". The kind that serves to connect us to our humanity and give us hope. I love this movie. The acting is stellar, the story is compelling and inspiring. The cinematography is nothing short of spectacular. I was able to see the world through a true artists eye. It made me understand the level of passion and tenaciousness it takes to reach that level. Some might say that the film is too sentimental, others might say it is self-indulgent or egocentric, but I disagree. I feel that the tale was told with hat in hand that it will serve to inspire anyone who is open to the message it delivers. It is a movie about achievement attained by following one's passion, not by selling ones soul.