The Autumn Heart

It is precisely because of movies like this one that I ever more frequently seek out independent films. A remarkable accomplishment from this talented screenwriter. Many have been unduly harsh and critical of this film because it walks along a "well-trodden" hollywood path - the heartaches of families who deal with divorce. But to see only this is to miss the forest for the trees. "The Autumn Heart" tells the story of one family's outcome from divorce. But during the storytelling we are enriched with wonderful characters who quickly stir a multitude of different feelings within ourselves. We discover many layers to each of these characters (or at least we do if we realize we are in the forest). This should undoubtedly be credited to the terrific perfomances in this film. If you have not seen "The Autumn Heart" yet, go see it. If you have seen it, see it again (as I have) for it comes even more alive the second time. An amazing achievement from an independent film.

Every now and then a group of talented writers, actors, directors, etc. coalesce without fanfare, big budget, or broadside promotion and quietly give birth to a very special film. So it is with "Autumn Hearts", a sentimental comedy/drama about a Harvard University student and groom-to-be who's unexpectedly reunited with a trio of long lost sisters from the other side of the tracks. The films takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of laughs and tears as the motley mix of characters earnestly seek needed reconciliations and purge long held regrets. All acting is good but Sheedy's performance in consummate.

I loved this movie! It was fun, it was sad, it was insightful! Terrific performances. I especially liked Marla Sucharetza, who played Diane. Although we initially see the "ditsy" side of Diane, we come to discover there is a lot more to this kind-hearted character. I will be on the lookout for more from this talented group.

I was really looking forward to seeing that movie from 1999 (a period, in which I liked Ally Sheedy' s appearance), as somebody said it was warmhearted or so. In fact I was completely bored throughout the whole film. Is it because I live in old Europe - the family-ideals proposed in that film were so creamy overdrawn and didn't match mine at all...? The characters of the siblings were so different, you wouldn't believe they are relatives. Like another commenter said, they were not developing at all. Sheedy had to act a hysteric, bitter, always yelling beast, who had never come over losing her father by divorce of her parents. She had to present us a flat black-and -white-psychology with no tones of grey in between.

The wife and I were predicting the scenes before they happened in this empty-calorie cliché-fest. Like the stripper, the unopened letters, the reality of the abandoning-husband, etc. I did think the way the ending was handled was good. I think those who enjoyed this film either worked on it and wanted to start a good word-of-mouth or they're expectations have been lowered by the crop of chick flicks that are cranked out these days. The Autumn Heart was judged in a good light based, I think, on its independent status. But this isn't fair to the studio-produced crap that people gleefully rip. Fortunately, I've already forgotten most everything that happened in The Autumn Heart anyway.