Ghostlight

"Island of misfit toys" Rita (Dolly De Leon)

Rita aptly describes her ramshackle community-theater group and unknowingly describes the tough family at the heart of the dramedy film Ghostlight. Having survived an unbearable tragedy, construction worker dad, Dan (Keith Kupferer), secretly joins the group to play Romeo, in an adaptation of the Bard's colossal tragedy that mirrors the challenges of the film's nuclear family.

Writer, director Kelly O'Sullivan (along with co-director Alex Thompson) shows the therapeutic value of theater, just as director Greg Kwedar did for Sing Sing, in which prisoners found redemption from theater productions. The family finds out about Dan's secret life, eventually healing because of it.

The film's actual acting family of Keith, outspoken teen Daisy played by his daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer), and mother Sharon played by wife/mother Tara Mallen lends a spirit to the film whereby each gently-revealed setback can't destroy the love they feel for each other on stage and real life. Oscar nominations should follow that real family.

Henry Miller would approve the admixture of love, humor, and tragedy is one of the two best movies of the year. To see it at holiday time is to remind us the salutary effect of quality family drama in film, theater, and life itself. Streaming on Prime.

It's brilliant. It has good acting and camera, rhythm, directing and it's humane. Maybe this is not going to my movie library, but what I do is that I cut such movies into pieces and when it is the right time I show these to my students.

As for the plot and this piece is about a loneliness of parents that are tired of life and are almost exhausted. Then all of a sudden the main character finds his new chapter in his life. Real people who are appeared to be good and true. Actually same people as the main character - a father of a teenager. Can't remember of a similar movie, but I am quite sure there are lots of them in American cinematography. Being tired of spiritless CGI's and all those superpowers, by watching this work, you will definitely have a good time and get entertained in a positive way.

The other thing with this film is that it is not too sweet or too whining. Nor does it have no single fake acting or contrived situations.

Thanks for a great work.

Can a beautifully sung "Oh! What A Beautiful Morning" portend anything but a good dose of tragedy, heartbreak, and reconciliation? Filmmakers Sullivan and Thomas chose wisely to incorporate three character-defining songs from "Oklahoma," the aforementioned "Morning", "Out of My Dreams," and "I Can't Say No." These are seamlessly juxtaposed with a slowly revealed family tragedy, a lawsuit, and a community theater production of "Romeo and Juliet."

The family is in mourning. This family of three runs the range: the stoic mother, the pressure cooker of rage father, and the belligerant teenaged daughter. None of them can discuss the recent tragic death of a son.

A serendipitous meeting shoves father Dan into participating in a community theater production of "Romeo and Juliet." The transformative magic of theater, stepping into someone else's shoes, is the catalyst for Dan's reckoning with himself, and his family.

Slowly, and not without some good doses of humor, the story and the characters unfold. The tragedy is as horrifying as the conclusion of "Romeo and Juliet." The sure-handed direction and the keen script is brought to life by the first-rate cast of characters.

Highly recommended.

A blue collar construction worker in Chicago with a volatile temper and a dysfunctional family is asked to fill in when a tiny community theater attempts to stage Romeo and Juliet.

A touching, complicated movie about family and art and fathers and children. One of the best movies of 2024.

And, my favorite movie genre. How art is made:

'Topsy-Turvy' 'Day for Night' 'Tropic Thunder' 'Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story'

Ultimately, indeed, The play goes on.

A great local Chicago actor stars in the movie, and slowly, grudgingly, as Romeo: Keith Kupferer.

What a great face. What a great presence. Costarring his daughter.

When the play within the movie begins, the curtain opens, and these familiar words heard by audiences for 497 years are spoken:

'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge, break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.'

A fantastic movie that I recommend you see.

This film is pure storytelling without any pretense or formality. It beautifully captures the magic of theater, portraying the ups and downs of life while attempting to navigate its challenges. It's a humble piece of cinema, showing great respect for the medium, the audience, and the range of emotions. Despite focusing on the family's difficult situation, the movie delves deep into human emotions, establishing an intimate connection with the audience throughout. It's a remarkable example of independent cinema focused on authentic storytelling, something that's hard to come by in today's film landscape.