GHOSTLIGHT
(directors: Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson; screenwriter: Kelly O’Sullivan; cinematographer: Luke Dyra; editor: Mike S. Smith; music: Quinn Sann; cast: Keith Kupferer (Dan), Dolly De Leon (Rita), Katherine Mallen Kupferer (Daisy), Tara Mallen (Sharon), Hanna Dworkin (Lenora), Dexter Zollicoffer (Greg), H.B. Ward (Jonah), Tommy Rivera-Vega (Lucian), Alma Washington (Moira), Charlie Lubeck (Tyler), Lia Cubilete (Christine), Matthew C. Yee (Mikey), Marlene Slaughter (Charley), Bradley Grant Smith (Jim), Cindy Gold (Therapist) Charín Alvarez (Principal Santos); Runtime: 115; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Alex Thompson, Pierce Cravens, Chelsea Krant, Ian Keiser, Eddie Linker, Alex Wilson; IFC Films; 2024)
“It’s a poignant, perceptive and well-acted film.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The Chicago-based co-directors Kelly O’Sullivan (“Saint Frances”) and Alex Thompson (“Saint Frances”/ “Rounding”), armed with a script by O’Sullivan, present an uplifting emotionally moving dramedy involving a construction worker, his family and the local community theater.
Dan (Keith Kupferer) is a middle-aged suburban Chicago construction worker, married to Sharon (Tara Mallen), and they have a teenage daughter, Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer).
While in a stupor, the distracted Dan without cause slugs a pedestrian and his firm sends him on an unpaid leave, which upsets his already tense family further.
During this trying period, the school principal (Charín Alvarez) calls in the family for a school meeting after the out-of-control Daisy shoves her high school teacher. Dan lightly scolds her when she curses. When Daisy suddenly bolts from the meeting, Sharon follows her while Dan confers with the principal not to have her expelled. They agree Daisy will be required to have psychological counseling in order to remain in school.
Dan secretly joins a local community theater putting on a production of “Romeo and Juliet,” to relieve his stress. Directing the play is the former professional actress Rita (Dolly De Leon), who takes him under her wings and encourages him to play the leading role. When the play relates too closely to his real life, he’s forced to confront the emotional problems that have been torturing him for the past year–job stress, his troubled daughter, and a strained marriage.
It’s a poignant, perceptive and well-acted film.
The onscreen family is played by an actual off-screen family.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 7/1/2024 GRADE: B