The fact that we have to even think about gun violence is nothing short of tragic. Yet we have to read about mass shootings in the paper, and hear about them on radio and television. One can't even drive through our neighborhood without seeing ribbons tied to trees-reminders that the worst of these senseless acts happen in our schools and the toll it's taking on our children. It begs the question, "What have we become as a nation"? Yet here we are. Welcome to the new norm.
"The Graduates" is the feature debut of Hannah Peterson and what a debut it is. It's a film focusing on high school students dealing with the aftermath of a shooting that took the lives of six of their fellow students. It's been a year since the event took place, yet they all are struggling to process the loss and trying to move on. It's a gentle, heartfelt movie that skips the melodrama and instead exams their daily lives. I feared the scene of the actual incident would be included, and fortunately, Ms. Peterson opted to omit it.
The opening sequence is haunting. It's a series of shots of empty classrooms and hallways in a school, revealed in total silence. We hear the footsteps of guidance counselor Vicky (Kelly O'Sullivan), as she approaches and then stops in front of a memorial dedicated to the victims-it consists of photos and sticky notes honoring them. It's this sensitive air that permeates a good portion of the movie.
We then meet Genevieve (Mina Sundwall) and her friends Romie (Yasmeen Fletcher) and Becker (Ewan Becker). Genevieve's boyfriend Tyler was one of the victims and it's been a year since the shooting. She and her friends are trying to carry on with their lives, engaging in high school sorts of things like hanging out at their favorite burger joint. Yet they all are suffering from survivor's guilt. Their friend Tyler should be there with them, sharing their experiences as they prepare to graduate.
Another pivotal character is the school's basketball coach, brilliantly played by John Cho. He has a great relationship with the kids on his team, and he feels more like a fellow player than a coach. It isn't until about halfway though the movie that we discover his son was Tyler, Genevieve's boyfriend. It came as a bit of a surprise to me and I wondered how I could have missed that earlier. We also learn that his wife and young daughter have moved away to Huston, and he's stayed behind to coach for one more year. There are a number of touching moments he shares with Genevieve, which will bring a tear to your eyes.
Early on in the movie, Tyler's best friend Ben (Alex R. Hibbert) returns to town and is soon hanging out with Genevieve. It's revealed that he had a hard time continuing to play on the team without Tyler and it's assumed that he had transferred to another school. We find out that wasn't the case-he actually dropped out of school. His plan is now to get his GED and move on with his life. He and Genevieve end up spending quite a bit of time together, and they help each other deal with their loss and attempt to heal.
I was quite moved by this remarkable film. It's a sensitive, well-written and acted story. Much of the cinematography felt natural, it included a lot of medium shots of the kids interacting with each other. You were right there, part of the gang as opposed to being an observer. I also thought the soundtrack was gorgeous. It added to the melancholy of the movie without being overly sappy.
And I was very impressed with the Ms. Sundwall's performance. She practically stole every scene she was in and I know she's definitely going places in the world of films. If you share my enthusiasm, I suggest you check out her work in the remake of "Lost in Space." I know you're probably skeptical, as I was before watching it. Trust me, it's nothing like that campy sci-fi show from the late 1960's.
--MovieJunkieMark.
