When darkness comes, we open our eyes wider so that the imperfect images of the world reach us faster. We close them, unconsciously hoping for light to illuminate our path when we open them again. As we enter life’s tunnel, we long for clarity.
The family we meet in Ghostlight (directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson) is struggling with unimaginable pain. Dan (Keith Kupferer) is trying to cope with the loss of his son, who passed away a year earlier. He is distancing himself from his wife, Sharon (Tara Mallen), who is trying hard to survive in the darkness that has come. Daisy (KatherineMallen Kupferer), a perceptive but capable girl, is trying to find her way as a sister and daughter in a difficult situation. Hardship and trauma devastate the family from the inside. Frustration grows in the man. He finds solace among an amateur theater group, which invites him into the world of art. They work on a production of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It’s his therapy, where he gets a chance to work through his repressed feelings and understand the elements that didn’t sit well with him.
The chemistry between the three main characters is palpable. This is due to the artistry of the actors, as well as the fact that the actors in real life form a family. A piercing film, lingering in pain until the title light is understood – not just found. Phenomenal performance by Keith Kupferer, who leads the viewer from the very beginning, until the inner transformation. The character of Daisy, who at first seems unapproachable, becomes a conduit of courage to converse. “I won’t be afraid, as long as you’re by my side” sings Ben E. King. The words resound.
We live in a world where fear has invaded our daily lives. An overabundance of information, events, pressures overwhelm us from all sides. Overwhelm grows day by day. We, read between the lines: have passion, love your loved ones, understand yourself. Give yourself space to be and feel. Fall into conversation because it is what can defend us from the world. Even though the son, did not appear on the screen, his story resonates loudly. Ghostlight tells, first, about confronting absence, the difficulty of mourning.
When, while watching the film, life questions arise in our minds that we want to solve, it has served its purpose. It has not been known since today that there are timeless works in the world. One of them, for sure, is Romeo and Juliet.
The film Ghostlight (directed by Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson) is screened at the 18th Mastercard OFF CAMERA as part of the “Stay Sane” section, whose partners are Lipton and PANI.
Magdalena Nowaczyk