In the course of any person’s life there is a lot of bad news. When your boss states ‘You’re fired’ or your spouse announce the marriage is over the new is devastating. Bad news can run the gamut from those overdue bills to life changing events. Of all this bad news that each of us may face there is little doubt the absolute worse is to hear your doctor tell you that you are suffering from a terminal disease and only have a very short time left to live. As with any situation that is so emotionally charged it has been the central theme of more than a handful of films. During this time film makers have taken numerous approaches to present this situation ranging from comical to extremely serious faire. One of the latest representatives of this genre is ‘The Guitar’ by Amy Redford. The films takes a more spiritual and emotional road than many of the movies involving a person’s reaction to the discovery that they have but a short time to live have taken. This is a difficult subject to translate to the screen; one that is extremely uncomfortable for the audience in most cases. The cast and crew were able to handle the topic with more than a modicum of grace, understanding and style. There are several technical aspects of the movie that fall short but overall it remains a gripping portrayal of a young woman whose entire life has been ripped from her. Nobody wants to consider what they would do if their life was suddenly measured as a couple of month yet most have had the passing thought. This film puts the idea right in your face but never in such a fashion as to be overwhelming. It is the journey of one young woman under the direst of circumstance and how she decides to deal with the tragic news. The film made the usual rounds in the independent film festivals including a showing at the much lauded Sundance festival. It is also a fine representation of what is best with Indy films; provoking an emotional response in the audience. While there are faults in the production that are at times difficult to overlook ultimately the film works well. It is impossible not to feel for the protagonist and her plight. There is a trend lately with little movies like this to forego or at least minimize its theatrical release in favor of home video. While this was only a short time ago the kiss of death for a film now it is a welcomed and respectable means of distribution. Most people are not near an art house that would normally show such films as this. Through its DVD releases it can reach the wider audience that it deserves. In this case the distribution is handled by Anchor Bay. They have been dedicated to brining little independent gems like this into your home.

Amos Poe has been provided scripts for films over the last thirty years. In that time he has not been the most prolific of writers but he has journeyed into a number of genres. He has a diverse resume that includes a good deal of drama with a few comedies to break things up. In this story he lays out the fundamental dilemma well but the amount of misery visited upon the woman is staggering and presented as too convenient to believe. Melody (Saffron Burrows) better known to her friends as Mel not only finds out she has cancer and only two months to live but she is fired from her job and her boyfriend break up with in within an awfully short period of time. Apparently this was based on a true story and as is the case with all such screenplays there is without a doubt a lot of dramatic license taken for the sake of emotional impact. A story like this allows for the writer to take more liberties with how they permit the main character to act. Melody’s immediate reaction to this mountain of bad news and isolation was to be crushed. Then there is a sense of liberation that emerges as she realizes that for once in her life there is little to hold her back from making the most of what she wants to do. The title comes into play when she decides to purchase a red guitar and learn to play it. She had coveted the instrument as a child and even tried to steal one but now there is nothing holding her back. She also cuts loose sexually with affairs with the female pizza delivery person and a male furniture mover. For Mel there are few it any repercussions that prevent her from acting on what she wants to do. It is not as if Melody just goes wild. She has lived a repressed and ultimately lonely life up to this point and now for once she can come first. An unlikely point in the story is just how isolated she is. Melody is an intelligent, beautiful young woman. It is very unlikely that she would be so lacking in friends that no one would act as a voice of reason here. As a plot device this was necessary so the audience can be sure that no unsuspecting relatives are going to get stuck with the huge credit card bills Melody is amassing.

When it comes to being in the movie business Amy Redford has it in her blood. The director of this film is the daughter of renowned actor and director Robert Redford. This is her initial foray sitting in the big chair on set and she does incredibly well. There are times where she is a little too artsy for the dire situation of the film. A lot of film is spent with Burrows silhouetted against her window with the vista of New York behind her. No male is going to object to lingering shots of this gorgeous actress but it stalls the pacing of the film. Perhaps the intent was to show that Melody had some moments of deep introspection but a little cutting might have been beneficial. What Ms Redford does excel in is how she can capture the internal struggle of her character. The audience may not accept how Melody doffs all responsibility but it is understandable. Redford takes the audience on the same journey of self discover that Melody is undergoing. She is freed from all restrictions. There are no social or moral imperatives at play any more. She experiments with sexual relationships with another woman and a married man; things the old Melody would have had a difficult time with before. She becomes overly materialistic buying anything expensive item that catches her eye. Then there is the guitar. It represents the one unattainable object from her youth. She can now buy it and take the time to play it. There is a freedom that is expressed as Melody straps on the instrument. Redford coaxes a wonderful performance from Burrows and that very much carries the film.

This is a film that will result in some personal examination. None of us want to consider their own mortality but it is out there and we do think about it. ‘The Guitar’ is a sell done character study that is gripping an able to fully engage the audience. Give this one a try; you will find it very interesting.