Sundowning

This is a rather remarkable first full-length feature film from Jim Cole, a poignant and deeply moving family drama set on an island off the Maine coast. The directing, scoring and cinematography are uniformly excellent and the acting -- especially the three male leads --is extremely strong. A bit long at times, but definitely forgivable in light of the overall quality and power of the film. Especially memorable is the performance of Minor Rootes as the grandfather of the three-generational lobstering family, living together in an all-male household bare of the touches and refinements of women, but Aaron Duffey as young Toby (in a performance strongly resembling Colin Farrell at his early best) and Steve Jones, as the father struggling with both his son and his own father, also give standout performances. This is a demanding movie -- relentless and at times bleak, but definitely worth the effort. I saw this film at the Boston Independent Film Festival (2005), where it deservedly took a major prize.