Run and Jump (2013)

Vanetia Casey (Maxine Peake), the spirited and impossibly optimistic center of the Casey family, is working hard to get life back to normal after her 38 year-old husband, Conor (Edward MacLiam), suffers a rare stroke which changes his personality. Tweedy American doctor, Ted Fielding, (Will Forte) arrives in Ireland to stay with them for two months: his research grant providing the Caseys with essential financial aid. Vanetia's a dynamo. But with two young kids and both men in the house, she's feeling bombarded and initially treats Ted and his study of Conor with resistance. Only when she observes Ted's calming influence on the family does she begin to value his friendship, and, in return, Ted enjoys their heady, happy-go-lucky world. But Ted's continued presence in the house sets the family on course for an emotional collision. Directed by Academy Award®-nominee Steph Green and featuring Saturday Night Live star Will Forte in an impressive dramatic debut, this life-affirming film embraces the healing power of love and family in all of its idiosyncratic forms. Run and Jump is an unexpected, unconventional romance, intimate family portrait and emotional journey of recovery.

As an American living in Dublin (Ireland) and an avid film lover, I had the pleasure to attend the Run & Jump premier at the Galway film festival (located on west coast of Ireland) last night. I am a huge fan of will forte's comedy and think that he has successfully crossed over to a dramatic roles with Run & Jump (think Jeff Daniels)… And, for the film, it was a powerful story of a family faced with a challenging change to their lives - I don't think their was a dry eye in the theater… This film has the great qualities of European independent film making, with its deep exploration of human experience… How people deal with extraordinary circumstances in their own lives but which are unfortunately difficult realities for many. My connection to this film was very personal - my mother's personality changed due to a chronic medical condition - and so it helped me see how others deal with these experiences - especially since it is based on the writer's personal experience with her own father… I think it would also help those who have not had direct experience understand what other's go through. Therefore whether the writer intended to or not, this film is an important expression of these challenges and can serve (inadvertently) as a contributing form of therapy. Please note cinematography (understated and spectacular), sounds (you can feel and hear basic movements such as the scratching of a beard hence drawing you into the characters thoughts) and for non-Irish please also note that jumping into the freezing Irish Sea is a right of passage here… I can say more but will conclude that I also believe this film is important to our society and should have access to the general public… (Typos here due to iPad keyboard)

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