Reviews

This was by far the best premiere at SXSW Film Festival this year! Kyle Hausmann-Stokes (writer, director, producer) brings independent filmmaking with a heart and storytelling with a purpose to its best. My Dead Friend Zoe is so emotionally powerful that it is standing ovation material. The multigenerational elements and the multiple timelines add complexity without losing the audience. The film is tense and also sweet, with laugh out loud comedic moments-those moments we can all relate to. Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris as Viet Nam vets provide different perspectives, and so do Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales as Afghanistan vets. The story comes off as authentic because casting and acting are flawless. I'm not a vet, but I came away with a new understanding-not just of issues involved in military service but also of grief and reintegration after leaving the service. Ultimately, I see this film as a story about treating everyone, no matter their age, gender, or ethnicity, with dignity and compassion.