O Mestre da Vida

I have now seen this movie 5 times and I will bet that I will see it five more. This movie for me was a validation of a life time of conviction about the state of modern art and how it has consistently suppressed the simple idea that nature and beauty still do matter.

I have gone to art school and I have seen how modern art schools can be so destructive in the nurturing of classically minded artists. And at the end of the day we wonder where the hell is art going.

For me this movie rekindled my love and passion for painting and ultimately reminded me of all those wonderful teachers who selflessly gave and encouraged me not to stop my journey. There is so much in John Talia's character that I related to, and I am sure a great deal more to Armin's.

Every frame in the movie for me looked like it was composed by an artist, only later to find out that it was. Anyone who admires the art of the great American Pennsylvania and dutch movement, will take away so much from this movie. You can see the influence of Andrew Wyeth and the Brandywine school on the director.

George Gallo is as masterful a story teller as he is an artist. His attention to composition of every frame and his sincere dialogue and very real character development, make this a guy to watch. I can't wait until his next picture.

I was very moved by the entire experience.

This movie gets five stars and 2 thumbs up from me.

It has been a long time since I have seen a movie with as much integrity and honesty. As the writer so aptly states in the opening of the movie: this is a movie for romantics not critics.

When I hear someone trash a film or is angry about something the first question I ask is "what are they afraid of?". It IS easy to be cavalier and self serving. It is much more difficult to truly speak from the heart.

The characters are real...the performances excellent. The script is brilliant. There are so many gems...words of wisdom that it is hard to remember them all.

What I like most about this movie is that it is completely unapologetic. It takes courage to let it all hang out.

Perhaps if our culture was more in tune with nature and less about cynicism and ego we would all be better off.

I would highly recommend this movie to everyone.

I just saw this incredible movie at the Sedona Film Festival and met the director, writer and artist, George Gallo, on whose own youth this true story is based. I could not be more enthusiastic in my recommendations for this film, AND it could use support, as he and his wife mortgaged their house to make it. So please see it and if you like it, tell your friends.

As an artist myself, I can well relate to the "death of art" described by the elder mentor in the film, who is discouraged by modern art and its snobbish disregard for the classical artists who passionately seek to capture and share a moment of divine beauty. Even more so, it is a powerful and sensitive human story of the power of love to redeem the tragedies of the past.

Other reviewers have described the plot better than I. My intent is to alert all artists of any media, and those who care about beauty and love to go see and support this film. Gallo said it was very difficult to get it distributed because it lacks sex, violence and destruction, as though that were all we moviegoers want to see. What a parallel to the theme of the movie itself, in which the elder artist laments that too much art is no longer about inspiring us or sharing beauty, but to express the ugliness and violence of the world.

I worked in post on Local Color. I took the job at a greatly reduced fee. I must have cried 10 times watching the rough cut with no music. Afterwards, I felt like telling the producers I would work for free on this one, but, alas, I couldn't afford to do so. This is one of the most moving films I have every seen. Tears of joy come to me every time I even think about or tell some one of this film (and as I write). I am a musician and artist. The ideas of this film resonate so deeply within me that I felt that I could have written it myself. I was told that Armin, after much urging, came out of retirement to do this. Having read the script he said "This is what I've always wanted to say". As for those who posted so negatively on this film, remember, right at the beginning of the film - "You are warned, this is not a story for cynics". Yes, it is sentimental, but the film defends that too. Sentiment and art are what make us human.

These days we have movies that hurl us into outer space, throw us into life threatening situations laden with violence and hysteria, or filled with so many amazing special effects that one cannot tell what is real and what is not. George Gallo's newest film, LOCAL COLOR offers none of the above. Not that I don't love the Wachowski Brothers or enjoy peaking into the twisted, creative mind of Quentin Tarantino. I do. But for countless reasons having to do with the state of the world today, I think that most of us long for this kind of "entertainment". The kind that serves to connect us to our humanity and give us hope. I love this movie. The acting is stellar, the story is compelling and inspiring. The cinematography is nothing short of spectacular. I was able to see the world through a true artists eye. It made me understand the level of passion and tenaciousness it takes to reach that level. Some might say that the film is too sentimental, others might say it is self-indulgent or egocentric, but I disagree. I feel that the tale was told with hat in hand that it will serve to inspire anyone who is open to the message it delivers. It is a movie about achievement attained by following one's passion, not by selling ones soul.