Mother's Red Dress

This is not by any means a cookie cutter Hollywood film. The reason I go to independent films is because of this reason alone. I was so impressed by the films premise that i needed to go see this. I was invited to the premiere and very impressed with what I saw. I love to see movies where I ponder what I just saw for the next few days and this film did just that. It kept my attention in the theater and more importantly, the characters drew me in. The acting was up to par with Hollywood films with a much lower budget. The cinematography was beautiful and the film was well put together. There were times where I could feel what the characters felt and that emotion alone was enough to make me want to have this film on my shelf. An amazingly, breathtaking, and engaging film that I will watch many times again.

I was highly impressed with the quality of the this film. It has the look of mainstream work and I am sure that was no easy task without a mainstream budget. The story is touching, shocking, and dark at times. The acting and directing compliment the writing perfectly. I felt like I had been to that coffee shop and could be friends with any of them. Since it is an Independent film, I think there was more freedom to examine the darker sides that a mainstream film might skim or pretty up a bit to be appealing to more general audiences. Because of that freedom, you end up with a film that is much more real, much easier to identify with, and something that draws you in like a great novel. -- Teeco71

I am a product of a broken home, survivor of child abuse, and can honestly say this movie addressed the issue with sensitivity and style. I didn't feel like the issues were used as a way to make the movie more interesting or exciting... The characters are real, and dealing with real issues...and there is no sense of hopelessness due to their baggage. The numbers of people raised in dysfunctional homes is staggering but no one wants to talk about it due to perception...Mother's Red Dress is a step in the right direction in dealing with the reality of mental health problems, substance abuse, family dysfunction, and the fallout. This world is filled with survivors of abuse and dysfunction movies like this will help change the perception of the general public. Bravo!

I have to say, after just finishing this film, that the writer/director Edgar Bravo should surely have a chance to do whatever he wishes for a follow up with the biggest name stars he can get. I see a fine future ahead for this man in drama related film. Awards are sure to follow him should he decide to continue his film making. I sure hope he does.

Mother's Red Dress is the story of a young man who has had a rough childhood, and whose mother has had to do horrible things to ensure the boy's safety. Paul (Timothy Driscoll), suffers from a sort of amnesia now, as he seems to remember his past, but not the specifics of it. He leaves his mother after her deadly encounter with an abusive boyfriend and ends up in a small town in southern California. There he meets Ashley (Alexandra Swarens), working with her friend in a coffee shop. Paul is inspired by Ashley to try and piece his life back together again. After receiving a call from his mother informing him that she has cancer, and another call from his father wanting to make amends for not being there during his childhood, Paul returns home to face his past, and his future, and the terrible truth that what he thought was real may not be reality.

This film had its meaty hooks into me pretty much from the opening credits. Writer/Director Edgar Bravo surprised me by filling out his whole film with engaging and complex characters. No one is wasted in the film, and there are no loose ends at the finale. There does seem to be an opening left for a sequel if the director desires it, but at the same time the open-ended feeling at the films climax almost seems to be a fitting end for this type of film, and the way the story was handled.

Now, if you're looking for a feel good story, happiness or an ending gift wrapped and handed to you, this is going to be a disappointing film. The tagline states "A Tragic Love Story", and they're not messing around about that fact. A lot of what transpires in the film feels like a mood piece, and at other times, the daily hum-drum grind of regular life. The film gives no promises to look forward to (other than a glimpse of hope near the films end), and pulls no punches when it comes to telling us about the story of a tragic life. The best thing this film does is to draw you in to the characters lives, and makes you feel for them. You feel some emotion for most every character in the film. You have to invest something to get the full appreciation of what is being told by the film maker. Truly good movies do that to us.

As far as the DVD presentation, the film is shot in widescreen format, and the film itself looks nice. It may have been shot on video, but doesn't really look like it, which is always a plus for me personally. The extras consist of a behind the scenes feature, and a cast feature. Grab a copy now, and enjoy a great director in the making.

I got the pleasure of seeing this film by Edgar Bravo. The dark mystique at the beginning is what got me hooked, as it was fantastically done. And from then on there is a careful, masterful balance that keeps the viewer riveted, as I could sense of certain simmering under the character Paul, the protagonist which had me enthralled. All the characters seemed damaged to me which made me "feel" for them and it gave them all a unique likability. Throughout the film, events and characters make you wonder deeply about what is really going on below the surface. The characters aren't happy, wonderful people. They are real people with real demons. It's been a long, long time since I've been shocked and haunted at such an incredible outcome of a movie such as I was with Mother's Red Dress. You'll probably see little pieces of yourself in each of the characters. And you'll be doing your soul a lifetime favor by seeing this amazing film.