Whereas Shelia and Richard often look into the distance. The two are at relative ease with each other, but sharing what’s always on their mind won’t help either one of them, and they know that. Thanks to Harrill’s carefully crafted script, every time a character does speak, it is something to notice. The words have weight and impact to them.
The reserved observations work so well for so long. However, it also proves the film’s downfall from reaching greatness. Without spoiling anything, the catharsis at the end of the movie does not feel like sufficient closure. It remains muted, which means these characters we’ve journeyed with for 82-minutes, who we’ve grown to like, fizzles when it should spark a life-affirming ardor.
However, what saves Light From Light from feeling like a well-made waste of time are the actors. Marin Ireland has been in small parts in a handful of great films such as Hell Or High Water and The Strange Ones. She is nothing short of stunning. With just a downward glance, the viewer understands everything she is thinking and feeling.
“…bittersweet screenplay hangs heavily to the silences Shelia and Richard share.”
Jim Gaffigan may be known mainly as a comic, but between Them That Follow and now this, he’s proving to be a fantastic dramatic actor. Simply put, Gaffigan has never been better. When visiting the site of his wife’s plane crash, he stares straight ahead at it while the camera lingers on his face. Every possible emotion you’d imagine someone in that scenario to have registered across his face in an instant. If Ireland and Gaffigan aren’t up for awards come the year’s end, it will be a crime.
Also, Greta Zozula’s mesmerizing and dreamy cinematography is a fantastic boon to the film. When Richard and Shelia are talking on his porch, the way the scene is lit adds an ethereal touch. This subtly brings out the supernatural elements, without ever drawing attention away from the heart of the film–its characters.
Light From Light does not totally stick the landing, as it stays small when it should have finally gone big. But the characters are well thought out and relatable, the cinematography is excellent, and the conversations between Shelia and Richard have resonance. This is all brought to life by an amazing cast, who absolutely deserve awards for their heartrendingly honest and raw performances.
"…If Ireland and Gaffigan aren’t up for awards come the year’s end, it will be a crime."
