Abandoned children, cursed parents, forgiveness, redemption, transient fame, the immortality of art, the magical properties of nature, life, death, and Hollywood. This is a condensed inventory of crosscurrents running through Curse of the Sunset Starlet. Opening with an artist (Zarianne) explaining why she's chosen to immortalize Hollywood starlets in portraits she meticulously creates using butterfly wings, the film goes on to delve into her complicated relationship with her own faded-starlet mother (Gigi), who was absent for most of her childhood. Making a dramatic appearance at Zarianne's doorstep, Gigi tells her skeptical daughter, and more forgiving grandchildren, she's dying and homeless, looking for a place to stay. Zarianne reluctantly takes her in, triggering a string of events that forces each family member to examine their relationships with each other. Evocative documentary footage, cinematography, and special effects contribute to the magical lyricism of the film, transforming human struggles into a broader meditation on love and death. Skillfully written (Steve Erickson and Lori Precious) and directed (Lori Precious), the film conveys powerful themes and emotions with a simultaneous light and poignant touch, leaving the viewer satisfied, and looking forward to the next project by this intriguing filmmaker.
Review of Curse of the Sunset Starlet
