By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Starring: Alan Curran | Amy Huberman | Martin Sheen | Stephen Rea
Country: germany, ireland, norway
Year: 2012
Running time: 100
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1773058/reference
Chris says: “To make a movie about operating a movie theater is a subject close to my heart and usually enough for me to give the filmmaker a free pass. Such a premise adds considerable charm to STELLA DAYS; the rest comes from Martin Sheen, terrific as a priest in a small 1950s Irish town. Pressured by the diocese to raise funds from his parishioners to build a new, state-of-the-art church (that they really don’t need), he decides to turn the town hall into a cinema, provided that he can assure the conservative clergy that he won’t screen what many consider to be ‘Hollywood filth’. Although the film adds in a number of
secondary narratives, including a politician (Stephen Rea) who acts as Sheen’s nemesis, it’s most effective when focusing on Sheen’s character and his struggles with both the town and his own conflicted feelings about faith and his profession. Director Thaddeus O’Sullivan hasn’t made a great film, but it’s a suitably pleasant one that carries more weight than you’d expect. 4 cats
”(This film screened at the 2012 Provincetown International Film Festival)”
Toni says: “I had thought at the beginning of the film (first 20 minutes) that this film might be too much about dry church politics without seeing where tit would lead; however, if you stick with it and see what Martin Sheen’s character and the nicer and nasty people around his character in STELLA DAYS you can appreciate.
“There are some funny lines and some strong dramatic parallels on being in an occupation or situation for the right or wrong reasons. I agree Martin Sheen’s performances truly give a human side to ‘holy orders.’ 4 cats
“(Seen as an Amazon On Demand Pre-Theatrical Rental)”