Scrap

This film beautifully and skillfully intertwines its main story & the hardship that Beth (Vivian Kerr) faces, with the stories & hardships of her Brother Ben (Anthony Rapp) and his wife Stacy (Lana Parrilla). The connection between the actors made the characters and their stories so much more beautiful.

Scrap captures some beautiful places of L. A, along with some hard hitting places that go hand in hand with the seriousness of the story.

I loved how well the music is paired up with their scenes, and how the pieces of each music tells a story within themselves during those scenes too.

The film is a credit to all of its cast and crew.

I am grateful that I have been able to watch this wonderful piece of art. And would definitely recommend other people to watch it too.

I haven't spoken to my sibling in years, and watching *Scrap* felt like getting punched in the gut-equal parts guilt and love. The portrayal of Beth and Ben's relationship was so real it made me squirm. Their conversations, filled with awkward pauses, tension, and unspoken pain, mirrored the complicated history I have with my own sibling. It was like I was intruding on something deeply personal, something that wasn't meant to be seen by others. There weren't dramatic reconciliations or emotional speeches-just the small, quiet struggle to reconnect. And that's what made it powerful. It reminded me that sometimes showing up, even when it's hard, is the bravest thing you can do. Watching them try, fail, and still sit in the discomfort felt like a message meant for me. It left me wondering if it's time to try too, even if I don't know what I'd say.

This film was heartbreakingly beautiful. It simultaneously hurt and healed all the way up to the end. The writing, actors, cinematography, editing, and music were all excellent (the choice of music almost felt like a character of its own). These characters were written and portrayed in a way that felt very authentic. My favorite relationship explored was Beth and Stacy's. Their differences and similarities complemented each other gorgeously. You can tell there is a level of respect between the two, yet they have this complicated sister-in-law relationship. It felt extremely honest, and I found myself not taking either side; I simply rooted for them to come to some kind of understanding. All of the relationships were believable, but their's stuck out to me the most. I was also captivated by each character's vulnerabilities and strength. My first biggest takeaway from watching this film was the reminder that no matter how different our lives and personalities are, we are all connected in this human experience. My second biggest takeaway was that it's okay to rely on others to help get ourselves back on our feet... and to have the road eventually rise up to meet you.

(The ending scene was masterful. Ben's nod told more than any line could've.)

I took a chance and decided to go see this one last night at Cinequest in downtown San Jose. Based on the trailer, I got the sense that this would be a more intelligent film than the others I'd seen in the festival so far. Boy, was I right: writer/director/star Vivian Kerr has pulled off a supremely confident feature debut which manages to contain JUST the right amount of quirky humor and emotional resonance without it ever once feeling forced, as so many other films in this genre and style tend to do. Beautifully shot on location in Los Angeles, and featuring a surprising soundtrack of 1920s and 30s-era music, Scrap manages to incorporate themes as wide-ranging as homelessness and young motherhood, all of which are handled delicately while the film itself remains a breezy character study of a young woman who is just barely getting by in life, but tries her best nevertheless.

I really enjoyed watching Scrap. This movie is just full of heart and authenticity. The characters felt so reel and lived in. Script and direction were really excellent and had me engaged from the start to the end. I loved how Ben and Beth really had a connection that felt real. They have their flaws, but accept each other and support as best they can. There were painful moments when Beth would continue to make bad decisions.. but that added to the realism of the characters.. as we all do that in our real lives. The journey that all the characters felt genuine and I wanted to know what was next for them in their lives. I really enjoyed the music and the beautiful cinematography. Just well done on all levels and a joy of a film. Highly recommended.