Warning: Mild Spoilers
Co-directed by Kelly O’ Sullivan and Alex Thompson, Ghostlight premiered at the Sundance in early 2024 to rapid critical acclaim and was quickly picked up by independent distribution company, ICF.
The small scale drama stars the real-life family of actors Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen, and Katherine Mallen Kupferer as they portray the fictional family of Dan, Sharon, and their daughter Daisy. Dan is an old school construction worker who stumbles his way into a local production of Romeo and Juliet. Meanwhile, the family is entangled in a distressing lawsuit, and their daughter, Daisy, is acting out at high school. The movie walks the audience through the life of the family as they attempt to continue on with their ordinary lives after extraordinary circumstances.
The movie is stripped back in its production with an emphasis on the complex characters. The acting is beautifully authentic with Keith Kupferer delivering one of the best performances of the year so far. Through just his body language, he is able to tell a complicated story, while appearing as such a normal person. He presents a very realistic portrayal of grief. His character truly feels like someone you would know in real life, which makes his character all that more relatable, and makes his pain all that more real. His relationship with Daisy has its ups and downs, but ultimately is extremely heartwarming in an ordinary way.
Daisy is another greatly complex character. She sees Dan’s potential for growth and tries to push him towards it. She is loud and unafraid to challenge societal norms, regularly pointing out the absurdity of the expectation to be quiet and calm about such monumental events. She comes across as smart and nuanced, and is oftentimes difficult to read. Her personality grows on the audience as she is always unapologetically herself. Some of her actions don’t make sense at first, but once the story unfolds, she is a deeply sympathetic character. Her mom, Sharon, is seen as the stable rock of the family, giving those around her the freedom to experience their own journeys. It would be easy for the filmmakers to leave her character here – but they don’t. Everyone has their own journey and is uniquely human.
The supporting cast of characters is just as layered. Rita, the woman who recruits Dan to the theater, sees him struggling and provides Dan with a group of friends, as well as a way to escape life for a few hours at a time. She clearly has been through a lot, herself, as a lifelong actor who was exploited during her attempt at Broadway success. The character of Christine, played by Lia Cubilete, is a deeply and tragically realistic look at someone destroyed by depression. She is clearly still struggling mentally throughout the film. Christine represents giving in to your emotions, which Dan, as someone who essentially turns off his emotions, cannot comprehend.
The film beautifully adopts the method of “show, don’t tell”. The idea of Dan having to act out what he does not understand on stage is brilliantly written. Although being on the nose with clichés may be the point, there are certainly a couple times where things line up a little too perfectly – taking away from the realism.
The film takes its time revealing the backstory, which has both its benefits and drawbacks. When the information surfaces, it brings a new meaning to the film. This delay of information makes the film feel a bit more like real life, as in the real world, most people never know the full story of those around them. We, as an audience, have to get to know Dan, Daisy, and Sharon before it is revealed why they make certain decisions.
Overall, Kelly O’ Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s Ghostlight is an eloquently emotional story of an ordinary family of characters. The film’s understated production highlights the intricate qualities and deep layers of the characters, making their journey through grief and healing profoundly relatable. With some of the best acting, writing, and directing of the year, Ghostlight is a wonderful film and a must-see for anyone who appreciates authentic storytelling.
