Kensho at the Bedfellow

Kensho at the Bedfellow is a really interesting indie film. I was intrigued at first when I saw the film festival laurels (apparently it has won a few awards on the festival circuit) and ultimately won over after watching the trailer. The film might sound familiar on the surface -- a doorman dealing with the death of a sister -- but Kensho at the Bedfellow is remarkably creative and a unique visual experience. You really have to watch it to understand. The film is described as "micro-budget," but you wouldn't know that from watching the film. In fact, many scenes are visual standouts, perhaps aided by the perfect New York scenery. Kensho at the Bedfellow is definitely a film worth watching.

I was lucky enough to see Kensho on the big screen where it won Best Feature Film at the festival I attended. I was absolutely amazed at what I saw and experienced in that theatre. Kensho is the kind of film that you rarely see these days — an original, engaging and powerful story that's both entertaining and thought-provoking. It's subversively funny, emotionally resonant, inspiring, and endlessly creative in its micro-budget wizardry.

The film explores themes of fulfillment, life-purpose, social conscience, sex, death, and consciousness expansion all in the context of the cultural phenomenon that is New York City.

The acting is also superb. Raider and Ronayne lead a cast of accomplished, theatre-trained actors that disappear into characters that are both relatable and fascinating to watch. The cinematography is gorgeous and highlights Manhattan in a mesmerizing, Koyaanisqatsi-like way.

As writer/director, Raider is a nuanced and visionary film artist who conjures comparison to Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze. The choices he and his stellar team made from production design to special effects to soundtrack compliment a thrilling and beautiful story of hope and interconnectivity.

I was totally lifted to a new place watching Kensho. The film gets my highest recommendation.

This is a terrific movie with a classic Dickens esque transformation at it's core. I guess it's easy for some to be cynical about transformations like that. But I've seen them happen in life. And I was truly moved by it. The story is told with some impressive visuals that really pulled me into the movie. It's an indie but one that's really well done. A very engaging film.

Kensho at the Bedfellow is a very intriguing film about a man trying to block the pain he is feeling. Brad Raider does a superb job masking the pain he is feeling to cover his sister's death fulling his nights with frivolous affairs. He deals with one haunting after another in order to face his past. Beautifully acted and shot. A really good director, I so look forward to seeing what he does next. A film you'll be happy you watched, it stayed with me on so many levels as it deals with love, loss, and longing to know your true self.

I was very pleasantly surprised by how well the film was shot. But most of all I was really happy to be pulled into the wonderful, stylized performance by Brad Raider. He was at times flippant like a live action Archer from the comedy series and at other times charming and sincere. Raider's screen presence was unique and really holds the film together. Part Kafka and part Pinter and part Bunuel the script moves well and it's beautifully directed and filmed but it's Raider I find so interesting to watch. Genuine unique energy and look and presence. The film dialogue is surreal at times but completely correct in context of the reality and sincere look it's taking into the life of Raider's charming but disaffected doorman. Overall, it's a well acted, well made film that is the reason independent film is important and Raider is a great unique voice.

It's very professional and well worth a look now.