Curse of the Sunset Starlet (2013) User Reviews

The regular appearance of magic.

[miranda-nelson1 · 8/10 · 28 February 2013]

When panning for gold, the miner starts with a mix of material and sloshes it around in such a way that the important stuff remains in the pan. And while each viewer of this piece will find some "important stuff" remaining in their pan, each will likely pocket different treasures. For me, the incidental hobby of the central character was the axis around which the story turned. For some, surely the relationships between her and family will gravitate to the center of their pan. Others may find their nuggets in the story of the aging film queen.

The script treads the line between drama and melodrama adroitly; not indulgent and not aloof. It is a sweet reminder that behind the doors of ordinary folk, there are rich stories, not so epic yet much deserving of our attention. Magic happens most often in small ways. This is a view into the nooks of ordinary life where magic makes regular appearances.

Haunting story of a family laying to rest a ghost of the past.

[Bookwormms · 10/10 · 24 February 2013]

Poetic and moving short that deals with the return of a family nightmare. This has the delicacy of The Glass Menagerie and a sense of fantasy that carries wisdom and truth inside. In this short film, the Sunset Starlit is brought to life through the use of radiant butterfly imagery. The horrors of family life are convincing, so are the terrors of feeling unparented and adrift.

The film is a fantastical reenactment of a family trauma. The relations between parents and children (and grandparent and grandchildren) are evocatively explored, so the feeling of a climactic healing rings true. I loved it, especially the beautifully weird performance by the horror-movie mother who "returns from the dead." The director, Lori Precious, has a way with children -- better than that, she convinced me that her magical vision has its roots in reality. She exposes the underside of Hollywood lives and Hollywood dreams.

Well Done!

[davidroth45 · 10/10 · 25 February 2013]

Curse of the Sunset Starlet is a pleasure to watch. The impressive visual texture of the film creates the perfect atmosphere for a story that both touches and intrigues. Those of us who have grown up in Los Angeles will quickly recognize the context of the film - especially given the perilous economic conditions that have affected so many in and out of the artistic world. The struggles portrayed in "Curse" are ones with which so many can empathize...although (happily) more extreme than most! A family on the edge in a world that so easily forgets those who have come before - what a metaphor for our current condition. And the ending of "Curse" is just perfect and so very touching. I expect to see many more great things from Ms. Precious....

Brava!

[avip1111 · 10/10 · 26 February 2013]

This film truly has something for everyone! Writer/Director Lori Precious has created a sparkling gem with "Curse of the Sunset Starlet". Mega-brilliant Sally Kirkland shines in every scene she's in. Everyone in the cast does remarkable jobs of showing one family's intergenerational conflicts with heart and compassion. The script is extremely moving, packing in so many complex themes about life, death, love, fame, aging, forgiveness, and the tender complexity of immediate family relationships. Screenwriters Lori Precious and Steve Erickson keep the plot cooking along with intelligence and humor. This short film packs a ton of transformational power. Highest recommendation!

Zarianne, an artist and single mom, is surprised by the return of her own mother, a fading starlet who abandoned her long ago.

[bobeisele · 10/10 · 25 February 2013]

This is a gentle yet powerful film with wonderful performances. Lyrical and poetic, with a script co-written by renowned novelist Steve Erickson, "Curse Of The Sunset Starlet" is an impressive debut for director and co-writer, Lori Precious. The movie's themes of abandonment, love and forgiveness are explored in a domestic setting haunted by the ghosts of Old Hollywood and L.A.'s desert winds. Kathleen Wilhoite as Zarianne, and Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland as her mother Gigi, a fading starlet, seem connected by a painful history that is real, not imagined. Newcomers Bailey Tait and Niko Baur, as Zarianne's children, become the conscience of the film through their touching performances. Visual effects are first rate, creating a sense of magical realism rarely seen in American films. The cinematography and editing work together to build a family drama in an intimate space that feels focused but never small. The artful inclusion of stock footage of Old Hollywood and photos of long-forgotten starlets adds to a sense of loss and the longing for a bygone era.

The best films tell a good story, and this one does precisely that.

[jsandri9104 · 10/10 · 3 March 2013]

'Curse of the Sunset Starlet' brings a crafted tale into the intimate confines of a broken home.

The audience finds itself drawn into the dappled, scintillating light that stems from both diligently inventive artwork and the beams that first-class actors shine as they probe carefully through the shards of fractured relationships.

It is worth watching a few times to truly unpack all that is exactly happening. The surface story reveals more depth and details, and the work that Director Lori Precious and the actors and casting put into this well-written story reveal more and more, like a gem turned under a jeweler's lamp.

Believable, lovable and finely portrayed characters intertwine with magical realism at its best!

A richly textured story

[louanneg1 · 10/10 · 15 March 2013]

Curse of the Sunset Starlet begins with a loving tribute to Los Angeles: palm trees, theatre marquees and the luxurious script of signage that marks L.A.'s midcentury modern architecture. Richly textured and laced with irony, the movie is a tribute to the drama served up by the extraordinary and banal juxtapositions of everyday life and the fictional life of movies. The film likens the magical (and sometimes horrifying) world of movie-making captured on celluloid to the fastidious efforts of an artist trying to literally capture an ephemeral essence of beauty by pinning the evasive material of butterfly (or moth) wings to paper. Each requires a certain determination, perseverance and faith on the part of its creator. This short captures the richness of symbolism, metaphor and imagination that spur the creative spirit to transcend the every day and reach for something beyond.

A Truly Touching Film

[betsybeale · 10/10 · 15 April 2013]

"Curse of the Sunset Starlet" is a touching film about a dying mother and her daughter who can't forgive her for choosing her career as a B-horror film starlet. The film deals with themes of forgiveness, rebirth, and family unity. What separates "Curse of the Sunset Starlet" from other shorts is its ability to engage the audience from the first moments of the film. Sally Kirkland's performance is truly compelling. It's wonderful to see an actress at this age still giving it her all. The dynamic between Kirkland and Wilhoite is both honest and heartbreaking. It's devastating to watch as they pick up the pieces with so little time left to traverse the decades spent apart. But as the pieces come together, we are reminded that it's never too late to seek redemption, and it's never too late to forgive.

Simultaneously light and poignant

[marcybowen · 10/10 · 20 April 2013]

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.

An interesting screenplay becomes a striking work of visual art

[pela-via-work · 10/10 · 23 April 2013]

This is a gorgeous film.

The love for Los Angeles and Old Hollywood is evinced beautifully, the butterfly motif and starlet portraits are truly amazing -- unlike anything I've seen before.

The facial expressions in the mother and daughter are tender and complex; casting was perfect. Each woman has a strong and distinct presence. They complement the other well. The children are fantastic in their roles and ground the film nicely.

I enjoyed the music selections, as well as the references to old films.

Lori Precious has artfully transformed a lovely story into a visual stunner. I'm a fan.