Magpie Funeral

The Magpie is a bird known to hold funeral-like gatherings for their deceased friends. Is this a sign of grief? Bird experts certainly thinks so. Director Gregory James Green's latest film, 'Magpie Funeral' explores grief, loss, and hope. Coping with loss is painful and never easy. This heartfelt drama deals with how to find purpose in one's life after experiencing a tragic event. It is a story we can all relate to. It's about finding human connection. 'Magpie Funeral' will tug at your heartstrings and not let you go until the closing credits. Put this indie gem on your must-see list.

Sy McMurphy (Darren Burrows) is an aspiring screenwriter. He gets one rejection letter after another from Hollywood agencies. To make ends meet, he works as a director for a local TV station. His boss Randy (David Weisenberg) has a personal vendetta against him and takes satisfaction from Sy's failures. Sy is also a bird lover that always seems to give him solace at the right time. When tragedy strikes, Sy is faced with a painful journey. One day he has a chance encounter with Nancy (Meredith Shank) and her precocious daughter, Lisa (Elizabeth Leach). Since they are all dealing with loss, this new friendship is a welcome gift into Sy's life.

The cast is first-rate. Notably the protagonist Sy played by Darren Burrows. He is best known for his role on the 90s hit TV show, Northern Exposure. Green reflects, "Darren brought a depth to Sy that I was not expecting. He blew me away. Every scene was expertly nuanced." Another praiseworthy mention goes to the actor that plays Sy's nemesis, Randy. David Weisenberg's portrayal of that guy in our lives that tries to kill our dreams is spot-on. One of the standout performances goes to Meredith Shank as Nancy. She embodies the feelings of grief and loss. Her daughter Lisa played by the delightful Elizabeth Leach delivers an endearing performance on how kids deal with loss differently than adults. The chemistry between Sy, Nancy and Lisa build this incredible connection that helps them get through this painful episode in their lives.

The film was shot in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and the Boise area where the filmmaker calls home. One of the key locations of the story takes place in a cemetery. You might think that it is a strange place for some of the scenes. It makes perfect sense. Remember the magpies and how they surround their departed friend? One magpie will fly away and return with pine needles to lay around the body. Once they pay their last respects, each one takes its turn flying away. It's a powerful metaphor throughout the film.

'Magpie Funeral' is about overcoming loss and pursuing your dreams. It is okay if you don't achieve that precise goal. The key takeaway is enjoying the journey along the way. Green is achieving his goal with 'Magpie Funeral.'

As an artist, I could relate to the Darren Burroughs character,Sy.

Sy spends his early and mid-adulthood pursuing his dream of screenwriting, only to see everything that he writes rejected. But he doesn't give up. He continues to pursue his dream even while working really awful jobs and abusive conditions. The character's grit and cheerful perseverance is inspiring. The movie was oddly emotional for me, I think, because, as an artist, I could relate to the years - long struggles of getting ones were out there.

Darren Burroughs is wonderful. He brought a nuance to the role of Sy that was so believable.

I enjoyed the comedic interludes and flirtations with science-fiction. The themes of death, love, and perseverance in the face of adversity are beautifully rendered, and we are left finding redemption through the balm of personal connection.

Most enjoyable of all were the references to birds, and especially seeing an actual Magpie funeral. I doubt that's ever been achieved in film before, and it involves a ritualistic honoring of the dead by Magpies. Super cool to see it captured on film.

I thought the characters brought the film story together beautifully. The start of the film confused me a little, but it didn't take long for it all to come together. The actors were great and the production and script held my attention. Darren Burrows and Meredith Shank had very believable performances. For being so young, Elizabeth Leach did a great job acting. I recognized the actress Katherine Norland from the DharMann videos! David Weisenberg played the man you love to hate. The film was filmed and edited well. The scenery was spectacular! A film I would recommend and watch again and again.

Saw this movie in Boise last month and what a beautiful story. A breath of fresh air. What a meaningful story! If you've lost anyone close to you then you know what this feels like...There is love, spark, humor and giddiness which is why I call this a breath of fresh air. Excellent job! Actors were great and Greg Green is awesome! Don't miss this Indie Film. Greg Green doesn't disappoint. If you want to see another movie of his "Three of a Kind" is also a good one. Lots of twists in this one. There is suspense, drama and an awesome story as well. These Directors and Actors deserve recognition as there hard work some times can never be measured!

Magpie Funeral is a little gem of a film. It's the story of a man who loses his close friend in a car accident. He meets a young widow, and her daughter at the cemetery, and they develop a close, if unlikely friendship. When a misunderstanding unfolds around a project she's been working on, their friendship is put to the test.

Although death and loss are a big part of the story, Magpie Funeral is a funny, touching film -- never a downer. It has great performances by Darren Burrows and Meredith Shank as the lead characters, and Elizabeth Leach does a wonderful turn as the daughter.

Other standouts include David Weisenberg who plays an obnoxious boss and Mario DiDonato plays a very funny literary agent.

This is a wonderful indie movie, with a heart.