Daruma

Daruma is a triumph of authentic storytelling. As a disabled woman, it's rare to see characters who reflect not just my experiences but my complexities, dreams, and flaws (and desires!!!!). This isn't a story about disability-it's a story about friendship, resilience, and confronting life's messy moments. The bond between Patrick and Robert is deeply human and emotionally raw, capturing the frustrations, humor, and beauty of their journey. Watching this film felt like being truly seen, not for my disability, but for the person I am beyond it. The performances are nuanced and magnetic, drawing you into a narrative that's as relatable as it is moving. Daruma doesn't preach; it connects. It's a film I'll carry with me, grateful for the way it made me laugh, cry, and, most importantly, feel seen.

Fellow filmmaker here: I've been to a LOT of my friends' screenings over the years and seen a LOT of movies that felt like they just missed the mark. This is NOT one of those movies. The filmmakers did such an incredible job of not only storytelling but casting the film authentically and they did it in way that by the end of the movie you didn't even realize you were looking at disability on the screen. Like... what a hat trick! Not only were the performances fantastic by the two lead and the supporting cast (Barry Bostwick is all I have to say about that!) but the production quality was astounding. The camera work, the sound, the sets, the wardrobe, the continuity. It was all there. This is a real, studio level film but these filmmakers did something studios do not do: they make an authentically cast film and didn't center the disability and took a risk. And it paid off. In spades. And as a fellow filmmaker I have chime in that these kinds of films don't come around often. So if you want to see more representation on screen and want to see more diverse stories, then please RENT or BUY this film. Indie film is in such a hard spot right now and these filmmakers deserve every single dollar that they will earn back from the exhibition of this film. Don't miss it and please don't sleep on it. You won't regret it.

Don't miss this authentic movie. It's a refreshing change from others in the same genre - the cast is real, the story is touching, and the ending worked for me! It's nice to watch something so well made and that doesn't leave you wishing you had rented or bought something else instead. It's long enough to be an evening, but not overly so, and the scenery is great. I especially liked the scenes with the (very) young child, being a sentimental person myself. Touching but not cloying. I found myself alternating between disliking the main characters and really liking them alot! A milestone, breaking the stereotypes movie!

This is a well-made film with classic indie vibes and a touching father-daughter relationship at the center of the story. It stars a pair of surprisingly strong actors with actual disabilities and very cute little girl. There are a couple of recognizable faces who are clearly there for more than marketing value. If you're a fan of Blue Bloods you'll appreciate a very different kind of role for Abigail Hawk (Detective Baker) and Barry Bostwick, who I know mostly from comedic roles and Rocky Horror, lends some genuine gravitas to this film and got me a little choked up. If you like indie roadtrip movies, definitely watch this one.

I don't want to post any spoilers but if you've got kids (especially daughters) keep a box of tissues handy when you watch this movie because you will need them. I have a young daughter and watching Patrick go through the steps he needed to go through in order to become not only a better man but the man and the DAD that Camilla needed was cathartic and painful at the same time. I was watching him and watching his struggles (the actor who played him was very good too) and then watching his neighbor own up to his own mistakes with HIS own family... wow. I did not expect such depth and nuance from an indie film like this. It was really well done and I will be thinking about it for days to come.