Ripple Effect (2007)

Director:

Philippe Caland

Writer:

Philippe Caland (writer)

Release Date:

11 July 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Fashion designer Amer Atrash, perpetually on the verge of success, is undergoing a personal crisis in both his marriage and his business...

Plot Keywords:

Interracial Relationship | Karma

Awards:

3 wins

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Philippe Caland	...	Amer Atrash
Forest Whitaker	...	Philip
Virginia Madsen	...	Sherry
Minnie Driver	...	Kitty
Kali Rocha	...	Alex
John Billingsley	...	Brad
Jerry Katell	...	Gordon
Orlando Seale	...	Brian
Kip Pardue	...	Tyler
Betsy Clark	...	Amy
Joanna Krupa	...	Victoria
Ken Sylk	...	Ronald
Robin Arcuri	...	Andrea
Denise Crosby	...	Ronald's Wife
Elena Satine	...	Sophia

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

USA:87 min | Germany:85 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Italy:T | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

YBG Productions

Hit and run

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

As the movie starts, we watch a man on a lonely road at night, walking. We hear an impact and naturally, we think the man has been hit by a car we don't see. After the titles, we are taken to a shoot for a clothing sports line using the label Trash. The main force behind the clothes is being photographed with a hot model. This man, Amir Atrash, seems to be on his way up in the fashion industry.

Well, things don't go too well for Atrash, who has to cut expenses when the investment bankers that are behind a deal to take the label to the stratosphere, have cheated on the contract that would make the designer a millionaire. He walks out the deal. Atrash, who has a lovely wife, is not a happy man. This explains why we see him at a party where a paraplegic man is among the guests. Atrash follows him, and his wife because he has a thing to tell Philip, the man on the wheel chair: he was the one that struck him and is responsible for his present condition.

This film written, directed and acted by Philip Caland, was a surprise when we stumbled into it recently. "Ripple Effect" is an engrossing film of redemption as the guilty man has carried a burden within him for a lot of years and now, when we meet him, he wants to ask forgiveness as he tells his victim what happened that fateful night.

Some of the great cast that was assembled are also producers of this picture and it helps explain how comfortable they feel playing their roles. Forest Whitaker is the paraplegic man. Philip Caland plays Atrash with conviction. Also seen the gorgeous Virginia Madsen, Minnie Driver, Kali Rocha, John Billingsley, among others.

The haunting music is by Anthony Martinelli. The fantastic editing was done by two men who know a thing or two about movies, Yvan Gauthier and Joseph Semanse. The camera work by Daron Keet also enhances the film.

While no doubt this film will be liked, or dismissed, it's worth a view by discerning viewers.