The Tutor

Of all of Grant M. Johnson's films that I've seen thus far, 'The Tutor' is truly the best. Not only is it Johnson's finest film to date (though I have yet to see 'A King's Curtain', Johnson's latest release), 'The Tutor' is one of the strongest film shorts I have experienced. This film is particularly moving to me, personally, because I needed a tutor to get through the final math course I needed to take in order to get my BA, which was quite an undertaking. Tutors - like so many in teaching positions - remain one of our most unsung heroes. This film is a striking exploration of that field, making it all the better because of it.

I saw this film for the second time and was very surprised because the same very strong emotional reaction to the short occurred even though I knew what was coming! The director's sister, Rebecca, stars in this short as a young lady whose life has fallen apart following the death of her fiancé. Her college grades have dropped so far, she's in danger of losing her scholarship...so she agrees to tutor a dyslexic guy in order to keep impress the committee and show them she is serious about her schooling. What follows is the lady slowly opening up to another person...something she's had great difficulty doing since her tragic loss. I like this film because it is 'the total package'--great music, an interesting story and amazing direction. It's not surprising that The Tutor took home the festival's award for Best Short Film and Grant Johnson not only directed this picture but wrote it as well. I can't wait to see more from this young filmmaker!