STAY SANE

GHOSTLIGHT

2024 / 110 min / color

Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan, the collaborators behind the highly successful Saint Frances (2019), are back with a new film. It centers on a family, or rather what’s left of it after a series of crises. Dan, a construction worker, is trying to come to terms with the loss of his son. His situation is exacerbated by his emotional distance from his wife, Sharon, and his daughter, Daisy, who’s as talented as she is hot-tempered. He’s consumed by anger, helplessness, and loneliness. To his surprise, he finds comfort in the work of a local amateur theater group, which, under the guidance of the charismatic Rita, is getting ready to stage Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The rehearsals provide Dan with the sense of community he so badly needs, but also an opportunity to confront his repressed feelings. Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan’s film is a moving story about navigating the experience of grief and the therapeutic power of art, which allows you to get a glimpse of the titular “ghostlight” of hope. The three main roles are played by real life family members, which adds authenticity to the story.

• Satellite Awards – Best Autor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical (Keith Kupferer);
• Thessaloniki IFF – Audience Award