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Reviews
This Is Where We Live (2013)
An Excellent and Moving Film with an Outstanding Cast
I saw this film as part of the St. Louis Film Festival in November 2013 and was, in short, blown away. The acting, direction, cinematography, and screenplay were all truly outstanding. The film combines a gritty, naturalism with an underlying hopefulness that gives meaning to the brutal losses and challenges faced by each of the characters. I found myself literally sobbing at various points in the film but I left the theater feeling both inspired and challenged by the essential story the film conveys of ordinary characters who find it in themselves to love and care for one another in the most trying of circumstances. This is a must see film by a first-time co- director who, incidentally, stars as the handyman Noah, who transforms and is transformed by the Sutton family. In particular I appreciated the way in which the exposition and trajectory of each character were conveyed through subtle suggestion rather than bludgeoning detail. Some key narrative details that would have answered the "how did that happen" question were withheld in ways that enhanced rather than detracted from the richness of the film. This kind of narrative restraint is typical of the very best screen writing and characterization. I can't wait to see what this film maker will do next!