Ghostlight
Summary
Ghostlight , which ab initio play the 2024Sundance Film Festivalbefore channelise to SXSW , is one of those films that ’s hard to forget . I sit with it long after the credits had rolled because of how beautifully and coherently craft it is . Directors Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson , function from a handwriting spell by O’Sullivan , weave together an intimate , captivating , and moving history that will bring you to tears at various point in time throughout . Ghostlightbridges the gap between art and reality , conflate a poignant narrative that aims to better understand a have it off one and the saying of sorrow .
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Cast
Ghostlight is a 2024 comedy - dramatic play motion picture head by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival . When a construction prole connect a stage output of William Shakespeare ’s Romeo & Juliet , things start to take a turn for the strange when the play set forth to mirror his own life .
Ghostlight Masterfully Tells A Tender, Deep Story
Ghostlightdoesn’t hit us with information all at once . We simply know that Dan ( Keith Kupferer ) , along with married woman Sharon ( Tara Mallen ) and teenager daughter Daisy ( Katherine Mallen Kupferer ) , are grieving the loss of their son / brother , who died a yr prior . Dan struggles totalk about his grief , while Daisy acts out at schooltime and Sharon work to keep the family together despite a looming deposit that threatens to reopen honest-to-god wounds . The dramatic play could ’ve easily stuck to the itinerary of healing , but decides to tat graphics as an wall plug for heartache and togetherness — and it does so successfully .
O’Sullivan and Thompson ’s film is deeply melancholy , but can also be quite odd . The filmmakers understand that life history , even when grief postdate us around like a shadow , can be filled with endearing , humorous minute that convey the sparkle back to one ’s eyes — even if it ’s only for a short while . InGhostlight , Dan duck his injury , allowing his anger to babble to the open in unlike ways , such as when he takes out his frustration on a driver who sharply passes through his construction area and leave Dan on shaky ground at work .
He ’s also embarrassed about joining a smallproduction ofRomeo & Juliet , advance by the spirited Rita ( Dolly De Leon ) , who plays Juliet and sees Dan ’s potency . The child’s play begins to mirror Dan ’s life in a myriad of ways , but it also have him the outer space to drop off himself in a role that he does n’t fully infer and hale him to address his feelings . To that end , Ghostlightcleverly and masterfully balances Dan ’s role in the turn with his fellowship dynamics , all while restfully arise the character so that the payoff is intuitive , magnificently merge every vista of the story .
Ghostlight’s Cast Is Exceptional
Ghostlightis a family occasion in the real sensation , as Keith Kupferer is unite by his literal - life-time wife and girl . It lends even more authenticity to an already impress pic . Kupferer is splendid in an emotionally gruelling role . He wears his heart on his sleeve while showcasing Dan ’s internal struggle , all of which can be go out in his bubbling madness and unfitness to pass on .
The drama could ’ve easily cleave to the path of healing , but decides to enlace nontextual matter as an outlet for grief and togetherness — and it does so successfully .
Mallen is equally up to the task of deport a standout public presentation despite having less to do . Her Sharon is hardly hold on , and her attempt to hold her family together comes at a personal cost . There ’s a particularly annihilating scene near the remainder ofGhostlightthat truly paints a picture of everything she ’s been feel , and Mallen really go for it , highlighting the brokenheartedness in every tidings . Mallen Kupferer ’s Daisy balance her parent ’ portrait , bring tragic emotion and off - the - paries energy and wit to the role . Meanwhile , De Leon perfectly glitter as Rita , full of backbone and empathy .
I could go on and on about how goodGhostlightis , but the short of it is that it ’s a must - see flick . The emotion of it all take me entirely by surprise , and O’Sullivan and Thompson make it very easy to dive right into the heart of the photographic film , as there ’s an instant connection with the characters . The paper are heavy and it tackle a sensitive theme with thanksgiving and ease , but it does n’t shy aside from humor , either . It ’s nothing forgetful of masterful , magnetic , and heartbreaking in the most therapeutic of way .
Ghostlightplayed during the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival .
