Cinema Purgatorio (2014)

CINEMA PURGATORIO was written, directed, and produced by folks who clearly have lived through (still living in?) the suffrage and anguish of indie film - yup: cinema purgatory. Pleasant, at times, painful throughout, PURGATORY puts you in the back seat as bona fide filmmakers navigate their way through the "f*cking" world of film festivals and indie film production. Constantly mocked, dismissed, and rarely taken seriously, the main characters, a filmmaking husband/wife team, Neil and Liz, do all they can to keep their filmmaking hopes alive, including a desperate attempt to win over actor Bill Murray by entering a novelty "48 hour" film competition. And as they faithfully go forth, it seems everyone has filmmaking advice to give, including a couple of mismatched knuckleheads outside a snow cone stand: "What are the three genres of independent feature films that always, always make money? Horror. Christian. And Gay!"

'Cinema Purgatorio' is a really fun movie with some almost surprising gems. On the surface, the movie is simply about a team entering a 48 hour film festival. If you look a bit deeper, though, (don't worry, you don't have to look too far- it's pretty much right there) it's a story about relationships and working out your issues. It's got a fun sense of real humor- definitely how I could see people actually reacting to these situations. There are lots of sweet moments and one-liners that bring out not only the humor of life, but also those little things we all need to learn and hear at one point or another. While it's not a cast full of well-known names or common faces, that lends to the realism and feel of the show. It's definitely something that will stay with me for a long time, and well worth watching again and again. Well done!

This movie inspired me to add to the lexicon of aphorisms. Cinema Purgatorio is a unique movie that is a picture within a picture within a picture. Is that equal to 1,000 words to the third (cubed) power? First, the movie is about making a movie. At the risk being blacklisted for creating spoilage, I will refrain from further description along those lines.Husband and wife co-produce "films" and are not doing too well. Spiritually and financially. They hatch a scheme to impress a Hollywood Star who, they assume, will back their next major project.Husband and wife set out to win a 48-Hour Film Film Festival. Nearly penniless they assemble a very funny and entertaining cast and crew who include a has-been, a wannabe and several in between.Their antics truly mirror the hazards and realities of low-budget or, in this case, no-budget projects. The 48-Hour weekend nearly turns into a disaster but through resourcefulness and persistence, they screen their entry along with several other submissions.The remainder is fast paced and will leave you surprised and please, with a warm feeling in your heart (unless you are heartless).

Enjoyed this film; the characters were well developed, believable and highly likable. The wit of the dialog and especially the scenes with character Nick (played to the hilt by Lavin Cuddihee) erupted into laugh-out-loud humor throughout. The Bill Murray-esque-ness came shining through and lent the story its gravitas. Set mostly on the lovely coast of the South Carolina Low Country, the beach is as much a character in the film as the actors, for even Walt Whitman could not ask the sea to be silent. Cinema Purgatorio is the second film by Chris White and Emily Reacher White that has blown me away - keep up the great work - can't wait for your next film!