Ghostlight
A movie review by Alex First
A deeply affecting tale about love and loss, Ghostlight is harrowing, sensitive and comedic.
It concerns the trials and tribulations of a family in small town America, who we come to learn lost their son/ brother in tragic circumstances in the past year.
Father Dan Mueller (Keith Kupferer), mother Sharon (Tara Mallen) and daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) are struggling – each in their own way.
Yes, three of the four key actors are real life husband, wife and daughter, and it works beautifully.
Daisy, now 16, is lashing out at school, from which she is on the point of being expelled. She is often loud and vulgar.
Dan, a construction worker, is internalising everything. He doesn’t want to talk about his feelings, yet he is a powder keg ready to blow.
Sharon is trying to hold it all together so the family can somehow get through, but everything appears to be coming apart at the seams.
Perpetually angry, Daisy is in therapy.
An ugly incident with a motorist sees Dan totally lose it.
As pressure continues to build ahead of legal action the family has initiated, surprisingly Dan joins a local community theatre group.
It is made up of a bunch of low rent amateurs, save for one “tell it as she sees it” former professional actor, Rita (Dolly De Leon), who spent 16 years in New York.
Let’s put it this way, the rest of the troupe’s acting skills are left wanting.
Nevertheless, they are working on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and with Rita’s encouragement, Dan slowly starts opening up.
The parallel between what happened to the star-crossed lovers in the play and the Muellers is very close to the bone for Dan.
Naturally, that presents challenges.
As a matter of fact, the whole work, written by Kerry O’Sullivan and directed by her and Alex Thompson, is challenging.
The pair previously worked together on the 2019 film Saint Frances.
Ghostlight is a slice of life piece.
The writing and execution are sublime – perceptive, well-grounded and completed without pretence, in everyday settings.
Keith Kupferer’s authenticity in the lead role is astounding. He transforms into his character, both gruff and tender.
Neither Dan, nor Sharon, nor Daisy have had a chance to grieve properly and that is the whole point of the story.
Katherine Mallen Kupferer portrays Daisy as an intuitive bundle of pent-up energy.
Tara Mallen is credible as a mother willing to lay it all on the line to try to navigate a path through what is a living nightmare.
Dolly De Leon excels as the ultimate, no nonsense, pragmatist with a caring side.
Ghostlight is one mighty special film, heartfelt and profound, one to be savoured and celebrated. A tissue or two wouldn’t go astray either.
Rated M, it scores an 8½ out of 10. 116 minutes
