Greetings again from the darkness. These days it seems 'hatred' is all around us. One group despises another group. Political parties and opposing politicians take turns disrespecting each other. There are hate crimes and there are hate groups. Drivers rage when another driver is rude or not focused. These countries hate those countries, and yet, despite the widespread hatred, we wonder why we all can't just get along. Director Rafal Zielinski and screenwriter Gina Wendkos (COYOTE UGLY, THE PRINCESS DIARIES) have the foundation of a story that shows what happens when one man ... a man who earned the right to hate ... pledges "to forgive all."
As the film opens, we are following two seemingly unrelated characters - an elderly man who feeds the pigeons and takes the metro bus, and a teenage misfit who doesn't fit in at home or school. We know these worlds will soon collide, though we aren't yet sure how. Seven-time Emmy winner and TV legend, Ed Asner (who passed away in 2021 at age 91), plays Samuel, a Holocaust survivor who shuffles more than walks as he visits the gravesite of his wife. Newcomer Margot Josefsohn plays troubled 14-year-old Casey, whose mother (Erica Piccininni) is so concerned with her own life that she easily falls for the flowery 'all is well' update from her daughter.
Samuel and Casey do cross paths in what can't possibly described as a new 'meet cute.' However, what follows easily qualifies as going beyond standard societal niceness. Samuel takes the cracks from runaway Casey and calmly fires back with nuggets of wisdom developed through experience ... and the aforementioned pledge to his beloved with to forgive all.
Of course, we all know where this is headed, and the film's weakness is that it takes few side trips to the eventual destination. Casey finds less-then-ideal work for an underage teen, and in the process sees her estranged father and his over-the-top wife for exactly what they are - life forms many levels below Samuel, who continues to offer guidance off and on as he periodically crosses paths with Casey (and her cool sketchbook). Despite her reluctance, Casey's story takes a turn when she meets Tony (Diego Josef), an admirer whose niceness generates both caution and hope.
Holocaust denial and youthful ignorance (sometimes blissful, sometimes hurtful) both play a role here, but it's the amazing performance from Ed Asner that provides the lesson we should all learn - maintain humanity regardless of history. In ELF (2003) and UP (2009), Asner seemingly capped a stellar career with two memorable roles. Although this film never dives as deep as we hope or expect, watching Mr. Asner (in his final performance) makes it all worthwhile. He truly captures the essence of a man who, very late in life, turns over a new leaf thanks to that pledge. And that new leaf is one we should all aspire to turn over.
Opening in select theaters and on VOD beginning July 7, 2023.
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