Au Pair, Kansas

I had the pleasure of seeing the first half or so of this film at the North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 2011. I was completely taken in by the lovingly developed characters and the beautifully captured scenes of winter in Kansas--so many shots of rolling hills painted in golden sunlight.

Just as the action was picking up, the power went out. It didn't just blink; an accident nearby took the whole block out, but the audience stayed put, hoping we would regain power and finish the film. Sadly, the theater officials confirmed that the festival was done for the night. They rescheduled the film, but I was unable to make those showings.

Understandably, I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to finally finish a film whose first half I truly loved.

As I watched the first half again, I remembered those lovingly created characters. Traci Lords gave a stellar performance as Helen, a widowed mom with a lot of frustration and anger. Håvard Lilleheie similarly played the part of Oddmund, an au pair from Norway, obsessed with soccer... and with unstoppable optimism and enlightenment. But is he straight or gay?

Things begin to move faster in the second half of the movie. As things get moving, Oscar Quintero (the fabulous Kay Sedia and Taco Chick) brings a bit of extra comedy, and things get sticky. Under-age drinking, accusations of molestation, estranged ex-wives, and Swedish dancing ensue. And why is Helen so angry? You'll have to check it out and see...

As Oddmund would say, "_Au Pair Kansas_ is Super Good!"

I can't recommend this film highly enough. Traci Lords has become quite the actress and brings a great performance to a woman who feels betrayed by a husband who she wonders if he ever loved her and who left her all too soon. Trying to give her boys a role model she hires a male Norwegian au pair. This is a movie about dealing with loss and coming to terms with it. The acting is top notch, the small Kansas town is charming with some great scenery, and the writing is believable.

The au pair is obsessed with soccer and it is through soccer that he bonds with the kids and much of the rest of the town. Meanwhile the mom (Lords) becomes suspicious of the au pair for a variety of reasons. One device used through out the film is that of having the husband speak both as a ghost and via video tapes. It effectively establishes his relationships with both his wife and his kids. You won't be sorry you watched this film.

I enjoyed this film at the 2011 Naples International Film Festival last week. I was particularly impressed with the writer/director, JT O'Neal, who held an informative and entertaining Q&A afterwards. O'Neal is someone to watch in the independent film world. He is a wonderful storyteller, highly intelligent and very personable. The tales he told about making this film are almost as wonderful as the film itself. It is a story of seeking and finding happiness after loss. It reminds us that human beings need to play, to laugh and to love in order to get the most out of what life has to offer. The optimistic soccer nanny from Norway is the catalyst for this and you will love him. The two sons in the film (Atticus and Beau) also put in terrific performances.

I saw this movie at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival in Southern California and think it would do great at the major film festivals. I enjoyed this humorous look at a Midwestern town that has a mostly Scandinavian heritage. The interplay between a freshly arrived Norwegian and the Swedish Americans of the town of Lindsborg, Kansas was thoroughly entertaining. I thought all parts were well acted, particularly Traci Lords. The dynamics of a family coming to grips with the loss of the father was heart felt and emotional. What made the film extra special to me was all the details in the dialog and background concerning Nordic culture as well as a story well told of dealing with grief and moving on. The movie does cover some serious issues so I recommend it for mature audiences.

I really enjoyed this movie - the fact that it is a low budget movie does not show! It is beautifully captured, realistic and very sweet! I liked the backgrounds, settings and the music, living in a small town myself - it felt very real!

The characters are very fitting for the storyline, you really feel like you get to know them and their personalities - even thought the movie is pretty short! You kinda form a relationship with them while watching! You share the emotions with and towards the different characters - it "pulls" you in! ;o)

Thank you for a great movie experience! I don't want to spoil anything - just see it for yourself, you won't be disappointed!! ;o)