#coolidgecornertheater

Hazzah! The first of, hopefully many, musings to come!

Last night I saw a screening of "Beneath the Harvest Sky", a coming of age story set in rural Maine that's been getting a lot of film festival buzz. The plot follows two teenage boys as they navigate the choppy waters of adolescence in a town that doesn't leave them with many options for their future aside from farming, drug dealing, and child rearing. Let's be honest, we've seen the teen angst narrative played out before and there are always common themes - absent parents, accidental pregnancy, illegal drug use, betrayal by those you're closest to, and dreams of escaping the inevitable fate of living in a small town. This movie is no exception, but it is absolutely worth seeing because it is EXCEPTIONALLY well done. 

The powerhouse writing and directing duo, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly (awarded Palm Spring International's 2014 "Directors to Watch") blew me away with their stunning talent in writing and filming in this most recent piece. Even though the story was relatively slow paced and predictable I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Each shot was not only beautiful but well thought out and incredibly meaningful to the character and plot development of the film. They used some of the most visually creative shots I've seen in the past few years. The color and tone of the settings coupled with the hand-held documentary quality of the filming really helped transport the audience into these kids' somber, small-town lives.

Another outstanding aspect of the film was the stellar performances given by the actors and actresses, particularly the two young men who played the main characters. These two up and coming stars, having made appearances in The Great Gatsby and The Place Beyond the Pines (to name a few), are clearly on their way to the top. Their performances were so real, I genuinely felt like I was watching a documentary for most of the movie. The supporting adult actors also knocked their roles out of the park. I was never taken out of the intensity of the story by a break in character or a poorly chosen delivery of a line. It was acting at its finest.

Finally, this movie had real heart. It's tough to find a story that you find visually, emotionally, AND intellectually captivating. This movie did just that. It left me with the feeling that I had seen something important and that I'd been changed by having the experience. I'll definitely never look at Terra potato chips the same again, that's for sure. You'll just have to see it to find out why!

In conclusion, if you like a bildungsroman set in rural america, you will not come across a more well-constructed contemporary film than this. Many thanks to Aron and Gita for taking the time to answer questions after the filming. It was truly inspiring to hear about your motivation to make the film and the arduous 3 year process of getting it out to the public. Best of luck in future endeavors!