moonspinner55

Writer-director Fran Kranz also co-produced this hard-hitting independent film about grief. The middle-aged parents of a teenaged school shooter (who killed himself after murdering several students and a teacher) have agreed to meet the parents of one their son's victims in the study room of a church ("a safe place"). Story of regret (and everything that comes with it: confusion, anger, deceit, denial, sorrow) is impeccably acted by the four principals: Martha Plimpton and Jason Isaacs working across the table from Reed Birney and Ann Dowd. Each character is given an opportunity to vent, to spout off, to cry--and so it would be nearly impossible to pick a standout performance (they're all flawless). Kranz's opening 15mns is puttering--and the finale is stretched out a might too long--but otherwise, this is a powerful drama, one with a prickly overlay of the overly-polite interaction of strangers. One BAFTA nomination: Ann Dowd for Best Supporting Actress. Kranz, his co-producers and the cast received the Robert Altman Award from the Independent Spirit Awards, where Kranz was also nominated for his screenplay. *** from ****

ABC Afterschool Special Season 5-Episode 6 ably deals with touchy subject matter: the death of a sibling. Melissa Sue Anderson is excellent as 13-year-old budding writer whose spirited little sister--her parents' favorite!--dies after falling from a tree. Adaptation of Constance Green's novel "Beat the Turtle Drum" begins with the girl's solemn funeral before kicking into flashback mode. This material may seem too downbeat to involve a pre-teen audience, yet the acting from the central children--including Katy Kurtzman and Sparky Marcus--as well as an adult neighbor and a local friend strengthens the precarious narrative. Director Richard Bennett's work is surprisingly straightforward, and a well-written speech late in the movie about grieving a loss while remembering the good may have been helpful to sensitive viewers both young and old. Daytime Emmy winner for Outstanding Children's Informational Special (to producer Martin Tahse). **1/2 from ****