I was in town for VIFF and decided to attend "Sheltered Life" on a whim. I knew virtually nothing about the film going into it and now, I feel as if I've discovered a gem. The movie follows Candice and her daughter, Josephine as they find themselves in a women's shelter after a domestic dispute with the husband and father, David Nash. During their time at the shelter, both of them connect with various individuals. Josephine, in particular, forms an odd, yet charming friendship with two teenagers at the shelter, Kendra and Cal. Over the course of their four day stay, Candice and Josephine grow closer to each other in some areas, yet farther apart in others. As their time winds down, they're forced to make a drastic change. All and all, this is a lovely slice of life drama with strong social issues lingering in the background. It tackles many topics with immense realism and the film never tries to present you with an obvious message, or easy answers, for that matter. All of the characters flow with authenticity, even the minor ones.
Valerie Buhagiar is great as Candice, appearing steady on the surface, but with a deep sense of hurt and confusion hidden below. Natasha Greenblatt is extremely effective as Josephine, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jaren Brandt Bartlett also leaves a poignant impression as Cal, hitting multiple notes...sometimes even within the same expression. Honestly, every single cast member has a moment to shine. Also, the cinematography is gorgeous, especially for a film of this budget. Not to mention, the music by Dan Mangan is wonderfully moving and tragic.
The ending was very abrupt and surprising, but in the end, I felt as if it was inevitable. It didn't sit right with a fellow peer of mine, but after it had time to soak in, he agreed with me completely. Overall, it was quite a find and hopefully this film scores a great distribution deal.
Valerie Buhagiar is great as Candice, appearing steady on the surface, but with a deep sense of hurt and confusion hidden below. Natasha Greenblatt is extremely effective as Josephine, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jaren Brandt Bartlett also leaves a poignant impression as Cal, hitting multiple notes...sometimes even within the same expression. Honestly, every single cast member has a moment to shine. Also, the cinematography is gorgeous, especially for a film of this budget. Not to mention, the music by Dan Mangan is wonderfully moving and tragic.
The ending was very abrupt and surprising, but in the end, I felt as if it was inevitable. It didn't sit right with a fellow peer of mine, but after it had time to soak in, he agreed with me completely. Overall, it was quite a find and hopefully this film scores a great distribution deal.