Review of Loggerheads

Loggerheads (2005)
10/10
Beautiful movie that should be seen by all
1 May 2006
I rented Loggerheads this past weekend and I can not begin to say how grateful that I am to have picked up that video.

Loggerheads is the most beautiful, mesmerizing movie that I have had the pleasure to view in a very long time. Too many times, movies as beautiful as this are put on the shelves at the local blockbuster to be passed by, when they deserve to have their own section and be spotlighted.

From the mesmerizing scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the beaches of North Carolina, Tim Kirkman gives us a breathtaking view while enriching us with a magnificent and heart wrenching story of a lonely drifter, his birth mother, his adoptive family and how their stories all tie together.

It's 1999 and Mark, played by the beautiful and very talented Kip Pardue, is a drifter sleeping on the beach (Kure Beach) after leaving home at the age of 17. He is trying to save the endangered "Loggerhead Sea Turtles". This is symbolic as the story unfolds because the Loggerhead Turtles lay their eggs in their nest on the beach and then the mother's abandon them. The eggs are hatched and the babies find their way to the open sea by following the moonlight. And every year, somehow, the turtles find their way back to the same beach to lay their eggs again. Mark as you will discover, feels abandoned in much the same way.

He befriends George, played by the handsome and amazing Michael Kelly, is a very sweet soul who takes Mark in and gives him a friend and a place to stay. He becomes Mark's confidant and eventually his love.

The story takes place in 3 different years, which Mr. Kirkman takes great strides to help us, the audience, always know the year we are in.

In early 2001, we are introduced to Elizabeth and Robert, played by Tess Harper and Chris Sarandon. Robert is a minister in a small town called Eden. Elizabeth is his wife and we learn that they had an adopted son whom left home years ago upon their learning he was gay. They are very old fashioned in their beliefs and therefore, they let him go, never to try and find him. Thus, abandoning him, in my book. Elizabeth tries to come to terms with this decision throughout the movie but realizes as the movie goes on that perhaps this was not the right choice.

It's 2002 and Grace (played by the awesome Bonnie Hunt), living in Asheville, N.C. is looking for her son that she gave up at his birth. She was only 16 and her parents forced her to give him up for adoption. Since then she has felt only guilt and grief and needs to find him to feel whole.

This beautiful movie is about abandonment, guilt and trying to resolve these feelings. It shows us insight to why these characters feel the way they do and why they feel the need to change. It gives us a character such as Mark, who is sick, yet manages to stay positive with his own beliefs but yet is so full of emptiness and yearning for something that he needs.

I can't say how very beautiful and poetic this movie is. I can only recommend that you rent or purchase it.
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