Ms. White Light

I can honestly say I have never seen this story told on film before, and how rare is that in a world of non-stop content? Director Paul Shoulberg's film is a haunting tale detailing the constant struggle with our own mortality, and our reluctance to accept our eventual fate. Carried by the daring lead performance from Roberta Colindrez, Ms. White Light is an early favorite as one of the best films of 2019. this is part of the review by aaron B. Peterson the only review listed on this site.

Whell a lot of people are missing out at the moment of a really great movie. A difficult subject with a lot of humor addit to it.

"You hired a complete stranger to help your mother die!"

I think the story itself ok, more on the actress spice things up at a lot. She got a quality or movie face totally. A comedian is born this way. Please do some comedy next.

Very well written, with minimal flaws. The direction is very good, as is the acting of its few characters. The story is very original, entertaining, and involving.

The theme is very unusual, closure when someone is dying, with an off-the-wall approach, not exactly a drama. It is unrealistic, with unusual characters, charming and funny, but not a dark comedy. It's more like a light farce, but one that forces very serious questions.

The focus is not on the tragic, nor on the gross aspects of death. The movie insulates us from that, and amuses, while making one think. The focus is on the philosophical -- with an small "f", very down to earth. The story pulls us in a gentle manner, with some laughs, but constantly touching on sad aspects. Yet, its not a sad story, nor a comedy either, nor too deep.

One has to be in the mood, of course. Even in this light approach, death is a difficult subject. A topic most people tend to avoid, till it it forces itself close, when one is hardly ready. But that's part of what this movie does, in a gentle and kind way, with laughs that distract, make us think about it -- as we should sometime.

I am very glad I watched it.

Lex Cordova (Roberta Colindrez) works for and lives with her father to counsel the dying in their last days. She's sardonic and bitter. Somehow, her darkness allows her to connect with her clients and work through their fears. Nora and Val (Judith Light) are two of her clients.

Colindrez is playing the character wrong. At first, I thought the character is autistic. They need to get rid of the cards. She's studying them like she's autistic or suffering from OCD. It would be better if she has memorized them from her father. She's smart enough to do that. The point is that her character is too blunt to speak normally with normal people. That's the angle. She is too blunt to live.

The dying would prefer to talk bluntly especially about their fears. That's the reciprocating angle. She can still be sardonic and bitter. Her performance is off slightly and it throws the movie off-kilter. One can see the best version of this movie seemingly just out of reach. It needs some small calibrations. There is great humor going with both Nora and Val. The dad needs to chill a little. I totally get where Spencer is coming from but that ain't happening in a million years. For that to happen, we need another actress.

Ms. White Light is a very black comedy where a father and daughter team run a business, "Mortality Solutions". She is Lex, a young woman who counsels terminally ill clients that are having trouble letting go. She delivers bereavement services in a novel way. She has a gift with the dying, though not the survivors or anyone else in the world.

Lex is a great and loveable off-beat character but her Dad is fully supportive of his daughter and he appreciates her talents in the business. Unfortunately Lex is really looking for a man at the same time as she tries to exit her role at 'Mortality Solutions'.

These are wonderful characters that could have been played by Steve Martin as the father and a young Frances McDormand as Lex, but they wouldn't be any better. Writer director Paul Shulberg has created a dazzling set-up, and his story of Ms White Light Is philosophical, romantic and complex. It is a fine example of enchanting independent film making and is further enhanced by a charming soundtrack including standouts Leave You- Midnight Sister, Sad Song - Richard Swift (and another) and Smoke Signals - Phoebe Bridges.