CCFF2024: Kelly O’Sullivan on ‘Ghostlight,’ the Closing Night Film

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CHICAGO – Closing Night for the 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) is Thursday, May 9th, and the final film centerpiece is “Ghostlight,” directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. For the full schedule, info and tickets, click CCFF Closing Night. For individual films, click titles below.

GHOSTLIGHT

Writer/Co-Director Kelly O’Sullivan (inset) of ‘Ghostlight’
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com

Dan (Keith Kupferer) is a middle-aged construction worker grieving a family tragedy, and has cut himself off from his devoted wife Sharon (Tara Mallen) and talented but troubled daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer). Through an accidental circumstance, Dan finds comfort and community in a misfit company of amateur actors. While performing for the first in a low-rent production for one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Dan is forced to confront his buried emotions.

CAPSULE REVIEW: The premise has sitcom-like plot drivers to get the reluctant Dan on stage, but the path to redemption for him is as emotionally freeing as anything you’ll ever see in a film. The creators of the 2019 award-winning “Saint Frances” has produced another exquisite drama of the human condition, filtered through the relevant words of the most masterful of theatrical philosophers, William Shakespeare. Everyone eventually deals in losing a loved one, and this film is comfort for the soul in the crushing feelings of that loss. A must see. (8:30pm, appearances from Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson and various cast members).

In Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, writer/co-director Kelly O’Sullivan provides insight on “Ghostlight” …

POWER

Power
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com

Driven to contain threats to social order, American policing has exploded in scope and scale over hundreds of years. Now, it can be described by one word … power.

CAPSULE REVIEW: This overview of the history and recent issues with law enforcement in this country involves many factors, but ultimately it points towards the implications of the non-accountable, unfettered and legal violence that police use for many reasons, and as a consequence the delicate hold on democracy that we the people have (if it still even exists). More chillingly, what a society leading towards even less accountability and more force will mean to everybody. (4pm).

The 11th Chicago Critics Film Festival is the the only such festival in the country curated by film critics, and highlights the 2024 films from the early year festivals like Sundance, SXSW and more. The other film on Closing Night is ”National Anthem” directed by Luke Gilford.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com