The Book of Stars

I don't know about you guys, but this movie brought tears to my eyes cause it made me see just how blessed we are to be able to do all the things we can do every day, she never made it to a fully grown woman, yet she taught us so many things. I really recommend it to everyone. It's a big reality check. It doesn't matter where you come from, because you will face the same problem wherever you go, sickness and eventually death, but the difference is how you want to face it. She was really brave and taught us how to fight and how to be united. She shared her love and even left a legacy behind. How many of us can say that if they left this planet right this instant they could leave something like that behind... and the legacy I am talking about is a book. A book never perishes, because it is filled with our memories, our thoughts and it can be read throughout generations and it can affect many people, like that man in prison for example.

I recently saw this film at the Stony Brook Film Festival. It was a very beautiful and emotional film. Jena Malone's performance was incredible. I'm sure we are going to see a lot of her in the future. I was fortunate to speak with Jena at the reception before the screening and I was amazed by her intelligence and poise. I also spoke with the director, Michael Miner, known for writing the Robocop films. It was obvious that this was a labor of love for him and he did a wonderful job. Mary Stuart Masterson's performance is one of her best. Delroy Lindo also provides capable support and Karl Geary gives a great performance as a Hungarian soldier. His accent was amazing. He must of had a good dialect coach considering he is from Ireland.

This is one of those small independent gems that apparently the studios refused to take a chance on and as a result is being seen solely on videotape and at assorted film festivals. I just had the pleasure of viewing it at the Sedona Film Festival, where after one showing word of mouth spread and the second and last viewing was packed. One of the things that made this film so memorable for me is that it took what could have been a terribly maudlin plot line -- one sister dying of cystic fibrosis being cared for by an older sister -- and elevated it to what I found to be a fascinating story of redemption and inspiration. It helps that the older sister is a cynical hooker, played by the ever-effective Mary Stuart Masterson, and that the younger sister is upbeat without being ickypoo cute, as played by Jena Malone, who no doubt is bound for glory despite's this film's failure to get wide distribution. Delroy Lindo, always effective but perpetually underused, is also marvelous as a kindly yet prickly friend to both sisters.

Finally, I shed tears at the end of this film, and I'm a cynical writer.

This movie is all about love and facts of life. May be that is the way which love,solidarity and hope really need to be told. Book of stars may be the story of the ordinary people' life that don't hide behind the painted masks.

Wonderful story and excellent acting. I saw it at the SxSW film festival in Austin and loved it. Worth seeing any way you can. The ONLY flaw is the one or two unnecessarily overdone special effects. Very cool love story and portrayal of two sisters and their relationship.