rjohnson-52

Dear Mara Lesemann, Thanks so much for sharing "Surviving Family" with us! We loved it. We laughed and cried. The characters are so real and believable. I love getting absorbed in a film like yours, and feeling empathy for the characters, and really wanting them to fight through the pain of the past to get back to the joys of living. The interaction between the siblings rings so true -- love and annoyance and familiarity and clinging to past impressions. It makes me want to reach out to my siblings, and reminds me that we all go through the whole range of good and bad, but that our families are our permanent past of which we must make the best, for the sake of our future. Keeping creating and sending out your messages of art to the world, because it is stuff we all need to hear. And tell Carlo Fiorletta that his performance reminded me of the time that he was my supervisor at BT (just kidding, there were no nuns there...)

"Detours" is such a delightful journey! Tara Westwood and Carlo Fiorletta blend so well together as daughter and father, rising up from sad life events to rediscover joy in themselves and one another as they take a car trip and head trip together. As sweet as bubble gum bubbles, this film is a wonderful bouquet of two strong leads interacting with many guest stars -- some very well known -- all adding sassy spice, humor, and warmth, often all at the same time. Kudos to the film makers, actors, and everyone associated with this production!