By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.6
Director: Stacie Passon
Starring: Funda Duval | Janet Moloney | Johnathan Tchaikovsky | Julie Fain Lawrence | Robin Weigert
Country: united_states
Year: 2013
Running time: 96
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2296697/combined
Michael says: “No one has mentioned CONCUSSION in all this, and I have to say, I was quite surprised when Brian pitched it so hard at the Nominating Committee meeting, and even more surprised at how much I enjoyed it. This is another powerful and beautifully realized film. I love the screenplay and the direction, but here’s a film that really hangs on the extraordinary performance of Robin Weigart. Truly impressive, and thoroughly convincing. I’m curious as to what others will think about
this film, because I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but I really loved it. 5 cats”
Diane says: “I wasn’t expecting much from CONCUSSION because of the blurb–something like ‘soccer mom turns escort’–but it’s a serious film about questioning where you are in life. It has the added goodness of treating a two-mother family as nothing out of the ordinary. Great perf from the lead. 4 cats”
Toni says: “I thought Robin Weigart was strong in CONCUSSION with a hard role to play and to mention another film I recently saw, Julia Dyer’s THE PLAYROOM, I would have nominated the oldest daughter played by Olivia Harris for an acting award.
“I was surprised to see Laila Robbins an any woman from many films in the 1980s in the film CONCUSSION as well. I wish the film showed more of the back story before the actual ‘concussion’ occurred.”
Chris says: “Stacie Passon’s film might have found a wider audience a decade ago; in 2013, VOD and limited theatrical distribution dictated by weekend grosses all but insured it would end up overlooked, and that’s too bad because it’s one of the past year’s best, most incisive directorial debuts. Primarily a great showcase for Robin Weigert, who up until now has played mostly supporting roles, it also takes a potentially lurid premise (bored lesbian housewife takes up secret career as a prostitute) and explores it thoughtfully, considering all the consequences but also the benefits of an extremely specific type of mid-life crisis. Passon also offers perceptive views of both contemporary suburbia and homosexual domesticity without trivializing or sensationalizing either. A solid screenplay (from a comically abrupt, action-packed opening to a meditative, resolute final scene) and a strong supporting cast (especially Maggie Siff as an attractive neighborhood mom and Johnathan Tchaikovsky as a
co-worker/confidant/enabler) only further strengthens the film’s case as a true buried treasure. 5 cats”