A Love Song

This movie was utterly beautiful in every way. I did not know that I needed to witness strength and vulnerability in silence and was tremendously moved by Dale Dickey's honest and transparent performance. I can now count two times that I have been in awe inspired by an actor's performance when motionless and silent: (1) was watching Anthony Hopkins's heart break in Remains of the Day, and now (2) Dale Dickey letting go of a romantic fantasy and confront a deeper level of grief in A Love Song. My sincerely thanks to everyone on this production. It's been three days since I've seen it, and the impact of the movie is still felt acutely. Bless you and your humanity.

As the clock of life ticks by, many of us begin to look back on our lives in terms of the opportunities we pursued and the regrets we hold over those we didn't. Those are the primary themes explored in writer-director Max Walker-Silverman's debut feature about a pair of childhood friends (Dale Dickey, Wes Studi) who reunite after many years apart at a remote Colorado campground. Their time together gives them a chance to reflect upon their lives, their memories and the loves they both lost. But where do they go from here now that they've reconnected? This tender, bittersweet arm's-length romance has its moments of humor, compassion and joyful reunion, as well as its elements of stilted awkwardness and protracted hesitation, reflecting the ambiguity the two principals are feeling after their long separation. It makes for some interesting dynamics set against the beautifully photographed backdrop of the Western wilderness. However, despite these strengths, the script feels a little thin with an underdeveloped narrative and back story, issues that are slightly exacerbated by the picture's slow but tolerable pacing. While it's true this offering proves that a film doesn't always need a complex, densely packed screenplay chock full of dramatic heft to be effective, it nevertheless seems that "A Love Song" could have benefitted from a little more substance. Still, this one has its merits, having deservedly earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for Dickey's lead performance and as a candidate for the competition's John Cassavettes Award. This is the kind of film that makes a good choice for a cozy weekend afternoon while curled up on the couch, and, thankfully, its economical 1:21:00 runtime is just long enough to make it enjoyable without becoming tedious - a nice little diversion without becoming tiresome.

This flick caught my eye. The limited dialogue somewhat makes you want to keep watching to see where it is going. The director does an excellent job with the scenery in Colorado.

If you happen to be an RVer or a camper, this will get your attention as well. There are millions of campers out there in travel trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes, you name it. The price ranges could be from a few hundred dollars to a million or more.

Dale Dickey plays the part excellently. You immediately feel for her. Limited money, drinking warm beer, fishing for food and seemingly down on her luck, but up on her hope for something special that just might happen. A "flame" from the past.

The actors are good, and the set ups are perfectly aligned to the story line.

The brothers and little sister are an interesting attempt - I think - at a little comedy. It did make me smile, and her directed them with the motor as the transferred it was a nice touch. A side story line or two was needed, and this certainly did the trick.

In the end, what happens with love. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it does not.

I gave this film 8 starts, because 1. I liked it. 2. Good directing and good acting and 3. Good filmography and scenery. This director will get bigger budget films soon, I am sure.

Will I watch it again. I just might, to see what I might have done differently in the filming and timing of certain scenes.

I give it a thumbs up for sure. Enjoy! Rod.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

The story is about two childhood sweethearts, both now widowed, share a night by a lake in the mountains. The narrative isn't anything special as we have seen similar stories like this presented in the past years of cinema. But due to Max Walker-Silverman's direction, the movie was still able to feel natural and touching at the same time. Silverman was able to keep the movie afloat with beautiful camerawork and some really good sound design. It makes the audience really feel like they are outside of the hills.

Actors Dale Dicky and Wes Studi in my opinion are some of the most underrated actors. Dicky and Studi's chemistry both help to keep the characters engaging with their performances helping to build their purpose. The nice atmosphere and soundtrack provided help to keep the movie like a melody. Storywise, it isn't anything special but I was still able to connect with this movie.

Rating: B.

It's a 7 but it gets a bonus point for just being so damned sweet. The writing is dear. The direction tender without becoming syrupy. The acting is heartfelt perfection.

Elders reunite with all the same adolescent awkwardness of their youth. Time may have weathered bodies but their hearts are fresh as spring.

She says, "Come inside." So we get to go, go inside lives lived. Hearts beating. People gently reconnecting.

It's playful and tender and quiet and touching and beautiful in ways I did not expect.

I love a good story well-told. This is a good slice of life story told so well it captures the exquisite joy and sorrow, expectation and disappointment, truth and beauty, of life.