Light of my life

Independent cinema is a fertile ground for new talents to blossom and above all to allow certain artists to make more personal films and thus no longer be permanently obliged to report to studios that are more geared to maximizing their profits than to giving free rein to imagination and audacity. After his first unnoticed film I'm still here (2010), Casey Affleck offers here his second film that he writes, directs and interprets. It is easy to understand that his presence at the casting helped him to find financing and, above all, to get even more involved. At his side is the young actress Anna Pniowsky and for one scene the actress Elisabeth Moss.

From the first scene of the film in which a father tells a tale to put his daughter to sleep, which lasts about ten minutes, the set is skillfully planted. We are in a world in which time seems to have stopped, in which all hope has long since died and in which everyone is trying to survive and protect their own. The rhythm of the film, deliberately intended to be very slow, amplifies this feeling of the end of the world. In the same way, there is little action in this film but perfectly created characters that catch our full attention.

Light of my life is fascinating in its way of building a realistic and deeply human anticipation film. Despite a rather static action and a scenario that may lack real surprises, the rhythm of the film is perfectly conducted and really challenges us on what we will be able to do to protect our loved ones.

In a world of total pessimism, Casey Affleck shows that he is not only a good actor but also a rather gifted director. The only weakness of the film that does not spoil our pleasure is to find a universe in which the absence of life dominates.

In the current context, this film really appeals to us and above all shows that with few means one can make great films.

Light of My Life
Written and directed by Casey Affleck
Produced by Teddy Schwarzman, Casey Affleck, John Powers Middleton
Starring Casey Affleck, Anna Pniowsky, Tom Bower, Elisabeth Moss, Tom Bower, Timothy Webber, Hrothgar Mathews, Monk Serrel Freed, Deejay Jackson, Patrick Keating...
Music by Daniel Hart
Director of photography: Adam Arkapaw
Editing: Dody Dorn, Christopher Tellefsen
Production: Black Bear Pictures, Company A
Distribution: Saban Films (United States), Condor Distribution (France)
Release date: February 8, 2019 (Berlinale), August 9, 2019 (USA), August 5, 2020 (France)
Duration: 119 minutes

Viewed on 12 June in press link

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