Dir: Courtney Stephens, Callie Hernandez | Writers: Callie Hernandez, Courtney Stephens | Cast: Callie Hernandez, Sahm McGlynn, Lucy Kaminsky, Tony Torn, James N. Kienitz Wilkins | US Drama
“Of all the ways to lose a person death is the kindest“
On a tight budget Carrie picks out a black plastic box for the body of her conspiracy-minded father in the aftermath to his death. The only thing he leaves her – the patent for an experimental healing device, and a pile of debts. A fascinating premise turns into a sensitive psychological drama from US filmmakers Stephens and Hernandez, who also plays the main role.
Carrie then embarks on a series of meetings with her father’s collaborators in an attempt to discover more about her legacy and her dad’s life. Through these offbeat encounters she gradually builds up a picture of the man she hardly knew, and she also discovers some bizarre conspiracy theories.
Featuring archives from Callie Hernandez’s late father, this oddball and darkly comic film explores the process of mourning for a madcap parent. Oddly, the filmmaking itself becomes a part of the process with its electronic organ score and some visual flourishes adding to the bizarre ambiance.
There are some inventive ideas here and the filmmakers adopt an episodic approach to the narrative that plays out with a series of wacky character sketches and imaginative concepts. Occasionally the camera cuts to a bleached out sequence that feels like a flashback but is ultimately confusing in the scheme of things. There are also clips of filmed footage featuring other outlandish gadgets and inventions and these give this watchable and memorable film its tongue in cheek humour. The directors also point out the following which I found relevant and insightful: “Invention also serves as a portrait of America in its late period, a country in which widespread disappointment infuses the culture with hopeful fictions and toxic nostalgia”. @MeredithTaylor
LOCARNO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | Pardo for Best Performance | Callie Hernandez | CINEASTI DEL PRESENTE