By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Claudia Lonow
Starring: Claudia Lonow | Craig Bierko | JoAnne Astrow | Mark Lonow | Nick Marini
Year: 2025
Running time: 96
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33994243
Michael says: “This curious mix of awkward life lessons, cringey sentimentality, offbeat humor, and moving exploration of grief, might be off-putting for some, but i found myself really enjoying the madcap combination that came across a refreshing, a little amateurish, yet ultimately meaningful in its message. Tillie’s family is in quite a state, after cutting all ties to her challenging-to-say-the-least father for the past decade plus, she is now faced with his impending demise from cancer. Her mom divorced said father years ago, and has remarried and remains involved with her daughters. Tillie’s older sister Violet, is urging Tilie to make amends with their dad before his death. When that doesn’t happen, that unfinished business takes on a supernatural life of its own, where Dad starts appearing and talking with people in mirrors. Everyone in the extended family is being haunted by dad except for… you guessed it… Tillie, who can’t see or hear him. The dual challenges of resolving this lingering break in their relationship, and coming up with a way to exorcise their dad from this unwanted haunting make for a surprisingly effective albeit bumpy tale.
“The creators of the film are somewhat interesting as well. Director Claudia Lonow plays Frankie, Tillie’s mom, who teeters between exasperation around her ex-husband’s lingering presence, to worry that she wasn’t a good enough mother. She’s very funny in her role, and does a fine job telling the story in ways that are surprising, yet effective. She makes good use of the screenplay, written by Isabella Roland, who plays Tillie in the film. I can’t quite tell if I think Roland is a good actor or not, but she was very effective, and really nicely written. 3.75 cats“