Cinema Purgatorio

I love seeing indie filmmakers succeed in producing quality films, which is one of the reasons I loved Cinema Purgatorio. Chris White and Emily Reach White make a wonderful team, and their love for making this film shows in every frame. Chris White also does a great job directing, but he will be remembered most for his quality performance in the lead role. White has filled his cast with wonderful character actors, and many stand out, but none more than Lavin Cuddihee who plays smarmy Nick Teasle to perfection. The film is charming and fun and truly funny, especially when Cuddihee is on the screen. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and look forward to more from White as well as Cuddihee.

This clever and unexpected film about the creative process of independent film making has a lot of laughs, a much needed message and a great twist! Enjoyed every well crafted frame and the chemistry with the crazy ensemble cast was palatable. This movie also gives its audience a great message about every day life and what is most important. It's not always about the goal…its really about the journey and enjoying the moment. Everyone from artists…struggling for their next inspiration…or people in a job that seems to be going nowhere or anyone in a relationship that might be in a funk (which pretty much covers most of the people on the planet) will totally enjoy this film! …. including Bill Murray!

Loved it ! This is a MUST SEE!!!

Enjoyed this film; the characters were well developed, believable and highly likable. The wit of the dialog and especially the scenes with character Nick (played to the hilt by Lavin Cuddihee) erupted into laugh-out-loud humor throughout. The Bill Murray-esque-ness came shining through and lent the story its gravitas. Set mostly on the lovely coast of the South Carolina Low Country, the beach is as much a character in the film as the actors, for even Walt Whitman could not ask the sea to be silent. Cinema Purgatorio is the second film by Chris White and Emily Reacher White that has blown me away - keep up the great work - can't wait for your next film!

CINEMA PURGATORIO was written, directed, and produced by folks who clearly have lived through (still living in?) the suffrage and anguish of indie film - yup: cinema purgatory. Pleasant, at times, painful throughout, PURGATORY puts you in the back seat as bona fide filmmakers navigate their way through the "f*cking" world of film festivals and indie film production. Constantly mocked, dismissed, and rarely taken seriously, the main characters, a filmmaking husband/wife team, Neil and Liz, do all they can to keep their filmmaking hopes alive, including a desperate attempt to win over actor Bill Murray by entering a novelty "48 hour" film competition. And as they faithfully go forth, it seems everyone has filmmaking advice to give, including a couple of mismatched knuckleheads outside a snow cone stand: "What are the three genres of independent feature films that always, always make money? Horror. Christian. And Gay!"

I saw this film twice at different intimate screenings in which the film makers were present, and found it to be a great dramatic comedy. It somehow still manages to stay within the lines of the format you would expect to see a modern comedy in while being extremely unique at the same time. The characters are interesting and refreshing and the actors are all so good in their roles it just makes the whole film seem effortless. A lot of films have tried to portray just what life is like on a film set, but this is the only movie I've seen that actually does it in a way that is interesting enough for people outside of the entertainment industry to be engrossed in the story.