Ghostlight

Rating 9/10

In movies like Paper Moon, On Golden Pond, The Pursuit of Happyness, and A Quiet Place, there is a unique charm when the real-life familial bonds of the actors are portrayed on screen. In the movie Ghostlight, the Kupferer household – Keith, his wife Tara Mallen, and their daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer – portrays a family navigating through the grieving and healing process after a traumatic event.

Short tempered construction worker Dan Mueller is under extreme stress. His teenage daughter Daisy is having major disciplinary issues at school. Even more significant, he and his wife Sharon have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Christine Hawthorne (Lia Cubilete), his late son Brian’s ex-girlfriend. After an outburst at work, Rita (Dolly De Leon), an actor at the community theater across the street, invites him in to read for Lord Capulet in their upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. There, he connects with his daughter’s passion for acting. As tensions rise at home, Dan’s involvement in the play leads to a revelation about his son’s suicide. The emotional journey culminates in a powerful performance of William Shakespeare’s play.

Though a seemingly cryptic title, it proves to be quite apt. A ghost light is a single bulb left burning on a stage in a darkened playhouse believed to ward off spirits. It also serves as an ongoing connection to the past, a cogent reminder that the auditorium is never truly dark or empty. This continuous thread of light that connects the past to the present parallels the Mueller clan as they confront their unresolved grief following their son Brian’s suicide. The theater’s diverse inhabitants of actors and stagehands create a warm camaraderie that support Dan as he navigates through his sorrow. Actress Dolly DeLeon delivers yet another memorable performance as Rita, matching the excellence of her work in Triangle of Sadness.

Ghostlight blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. This is the third feature from director Alex Thompson, who directs with his partner actress Kelly O’Sullivan, who also wrote the screenplay with a symbolic perspective. The family’s trauma mirrors the tragedy within the Shakespearean play being rehearsed. From All About Eve to Birdman and beyond, the theater often serves as a mirror that heightens and underscores the lives of its characters. Additionally, the natural chemistry and ease the Kupferer family have with each other elevate the film. Their existing connections add depth to a compelling narrative. Ghostlight captivates with genuine emotion, drawing the audience into the authenticity of the characters’ lives and enriching our own at the same time.

06-18-24