Directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson
Starring Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, and Dolly De Leon

A lotta ticker and li’l bit of Shakespeare.

That is what audiences who choose to see Ghostlight, a small film in scale with the capability to have an impact as big as a whale, can expect.

Real-life husband and wife Keith Kupferer and Katherine Mallen Kupferer play married couple Dan and Sharon, alongside their real-life daughter Tara Mallen, who plays their daughter, Daisy, in the film. This unique casting decision brings plenty of authenticity to their scenes, but don’t be surprised if it takes you quite some time to warm to what you have chosen to watch.

For numerous reasons, Ghostlight gets off to a dubious start that can make viewers feel as uncertain about continuing as Dan and Sharon do in knowing just how exactly to parent their rebellious and angry teenage daughter. Daisy is making life difficult for her parents but for Dan, the problems he is facing are inescapable and everywhere he goes. Things aren’t exactly flourishing at home with Sharon, the family are involved in some kind of lawsuit, and Dan adds extra trouble to himself by losing his cool on the job. Sharon, meanwhile, is the calmest of the trio, but is running extremely low on spoons at keeping everyone together. It’s fair to say this family needs a break, or a kind-hearted Samaritan to bring some good into their lives. Enter Rita (Triangle of Sadness’ Dolly De Leon), a valuable and core member of an amateur theatre group who are rehearsing in the vicinity of the construction site Dan works at for their upcoming performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Rita’s invitation to Dan to join them is reluctantly accepted yet soon becomes a welcome and much-needed distraction from life. But when this world of escapism suddenly forces Dan to confront realities he’s been avoiding, the drama off stage begins to flicker backstage.

Ghostlight started to win me over from the moment it gradually begins to unveil its depth, exploring themes that warrant its characters temperaments and interactions. Some of our leading actors do struggle to fully convince initially but their characters are relatable, and the film is soon surprisingly very absorbing to watch. Even emotional! It certainly took me by surprise when I found myself suddenly ‘feeling the film’ so much, I needed to have a little cry! Rita is also a great character who brings warmth and energy to the screen through Dolly De Leon’s very worthwhile contribution. I also quite like how the screenplay for Ghostlight derives what it does from the famous Shakespearean tragedy and then re-purposes and re-packages this, though it’s hard to say if appreciation for this will be widespread among viewers. Either way, definitely a concept that in the end, is worth exploring.

Ghostlight is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from October 10th.

Moviedoc thanks Vendetta Films and TM Publicity for providing a screener to watch and review this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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