Allen Sunshine

Allen Sunshine is a movie like no other. It has a delicacy which is hard to even pin point. The sounds, the atmosphere, and the environment of the film create an almost meditative experience for the viewer. With a story that is beautiful to follow, it serves as a reminder to remain positive despite life's challenges. I must say this film filled my soul in such a new way that I've yet to feel in front of a screen. Thank you Harley for the fruitful experience!

It's not often that a debut film feels this confident, but Harley delivers a truly impressive first feature that stands out in both style and substance. Set in a breathtaking location that feels like a character in itself, the film immerses you from the very first frame.

What struck me most was the maturity in storytelling which was subtle, well-paced, and emotionally grounded. You can tell a lot of care went into every detail, from the cinematography to the performances. The cast brought a quiet intensity that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

This is more than just a promising start, it's a strong artistic statement. I can't wait to see what comes next from this filmmaker.

Very highly recommended.

Harley Chamandy's first feature hit me like a memory you don't want to let go of. It's about grief, but not in the loud, obvious way. The film sits in sunlight, in the texture of wood, in glances that linger longer than words. It moves slow, but that's the point you're asked to sit with it, not rush past it.

Vincent Leclerc carries the heart of the story. His performance isn't flashy, but that's what makes it stick. Around him, side characters drift in and out like echoes. Chamandy builds the world with small details the sound of a door, the silence between lines until you feel the weight of what isn't said more than what is.

Allen Sunshine feels like a throwback to when films trusted their audience to pay attention. It reminded me of Kelly Reichardt's patience and Spike Jonze's quiet comfort, but it's also its own thing, intimate, almost sacred in how it looks at loss.

In a time where movies are usually too loud, too fast, too desperate for your attention, this one asks you to slow down. And when it ends, you might not even know exactly what you felt. You just know it stays with you.

That's what real cinema does.

Allen Sunshine truly delves into what it means to be human. Wonderfully simplistic, it never tries to be anything it is not, yet I found its effect on me to be profound, to say the least. As I, and everyone who will see this movie in some way shape or form, have been impacted by suicide, Allen Sunshine invites us to ponder the preciousness of life and the importance of human connection.

An impressive performance by the leading man, he subtly and outstandingly portrays the nuances of grief in a way that felt entirely genuine. Aesthetically, every shot was a painting. I felt the strong urge to jump through the screen and jam on that synth collection in that gorgeous wooden cabin.

A Marvellous debut by this young Director, can't wait to see what's next.

Allen Sunshine moves with quiet power, every frame composed like a painting in its color, texture, and symbolism. It follows Allen, a man grieving in the woods, searching for renewal through an experimental practice of turning nature's silence into sound. What he doesn't expect is that the friendship of two young boys becomes the true catalyst for his healing. Harley Chamandy brings it all together with a vision that is both tender and fearless, filled with beauty, pain, and transformation.