By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.6
Director: Max Walker-Silverman
Starring: Benja K. Thomas | Dale Dickey | John Way | Michelle Wilson | Wes Studi
Country: united_states
Year: 2022
Running time: 81
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12691830/reference/
Chris says: “With her weathered face, Tennessee accent and general moxie, Dale Dickey is an actress who brings something inimitable to the table. This distinctness has relegated her to smaller, supporting parts and there’s nothing wrong with that. Still, just because a performer excels as a character actress doesn’t mean she’s not capable of taking the lead given the opportunity. Writer/director Max Walker-Silverman’s film feels like a deliberate attempt to build something entirely around Dickey, and it’s a gem.
“As Faye, a widower waiting in her trailer parked at a campsite in the Colorado Rocky Mountains for Lito (Wes Studi) a long-lost childhood sweetheart, Dickey appears in nearly every single frame. At first, there’s precious little dialogue; only an observation of Faye’s daily routine: making coffee, fishing for crabs in the adjacent lake, twisting the dial of an ancient transistor radio, identifying bird calls and constellations. It seems like a peaceful existence until the routine feels like a routine as Faye waits and waits for her visitor.
“It’s no spoiler to reveal that Lito eventually arrives. What happens next, however, is neither shocking nor fully predictable. A LOVE SONG gradually reveals itself as a film about time and loss, the need for connection and the benefit of perseverance and finding strength within. Although Faye doesn’t stray far from where she’s anchored her trailer, she goes on a considerable journey of the soul. Dickey is as earthy and tenacious as you’d expect, but this tailor-made part also allows her to exhibit much more vulnerability and warmth than usual. 5 cats
“(Screened at IFF Boston 2022. Theatrical release later this summer.)”
Michael says: “This exploration of love, loss, and aging is a lovely story in and of itself, but as a vehicle to showcase the magnificent performance by character actor Dale Dickey, it’s a real show-stopper. Dickey is known for lots of memorable performances from films such as WINTER’S BONE, LEAVE NO TRACE, and THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE, but never has she been given a leading role that is so internalized and beautiful realized. A solitary widow, Dickey plays Faye, who waits in her trailer to meet a childhood sweetheart that she hasn’t seen for decades. Walker-Silverman spends luxurious amounts of time on Dale’s exquisitely weathered face as she spends her days catching fish, enjoying the magnificent vistas of the Colorado Rockies, and pondering her life thus far. She’s eager, she’s wary, she’s lonely, she’s sad… she’s a human being living a quiet life with hope and expectation, but also reality and experience. Aided ably by a great supporting performance by Wes Studi, A Love Song is a very special film, and one that is worth every moment. 5 cats”
Julie says: “Wow, you have to see this before you vote for Best Actress! Friend of Chlotrudis Dale Dickey was fantastic!
“I had a hard time motivating to see this film as I suspected it would be a very meditative, low action sort of affair. But, I was enthralled from beginning to end, in large part due to Dale Dickey’s strong presence whether speaking or not, she conveys so much. But in addition I had a few good laughs regarding her interactions with others along the way. Loved this one. 4.5 cats”
Vicki says: “This film looks magnificent and it has a sparse but effective script . Dale Dickey gives one of the best performances of her career as Faye, a woman waiting for an old flame in the desert. When Lito , played brilliantly by Wes Stulti, arrives, their reunion is both awkward and familiar. Walker- Silverman is a directing talent to be watched. 4 cats”