-Written by Kyle Bain.
Young filmmaker Loren (Kelly Blatz) and seasoned actor Rose (Jacqueline Bisset) meet as the two look to move forward in their careers and create something captivating. Loren & Rose sees an unlikely friendship blossom into something spectacular–but friendship is never without hardship, and the two must determine how to overcome the obstacles that will inevitably end up in their way.
The regular references to Harper Lee and Georgia O’Keefe let viewers know that Loren & Rose is a film meant to speak on art and express to the world the importance of it. Loren & Rose is a film about art, and with that comes a level of unavoidable pretension that seems to extend itself the length of the film. I’m not so sure that this truth is damning, but I think it has the potential to cause viewers to turn up their noses to the very thought of the film–losing them early on, and struggling to reel them back in by the film’s conclusion. There’s something about this film that reeks of affectation–and it’s certainly a hindrance that can’t be overlooked.
There’s something within Loren & Rose, however, that reminds me of my sometimes unique and enigmatic taste in art. Sometimes I look at a piece of art–whether that’s music, film, or something else entirely, and I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that someone else doesn’t appreciate it the way that I do. This sentiment is evident in Loren & Rose, and as that can make the production team appear somewhat standoffish, that aspect of the film also managed to speak to me. There’s a bit of that in every artist. While we all know that art is subjective, all know that others’ acceptance isn’t what provides validity, there is always something in us that forces us to turn our noses up to other’s opinions and/or feel that we are better than those around us. The simple fact that I’ve referred to myself as an “artist” when my artform comes in the form of these reviews is enough to label me pretentious–enough for Loren & Rose to speak to me and allow me appreciate the sentiment present in this unlikely duo’s narrative.
Director of Photography Christopher Gosch often captures the delicate by intricate conversations between the titular team in a way that is unique, but incredibly becoming. The majority of their conversations take place around a table in a restaurant, and in that restaurant are a series of mirrors that work to extend the set in various directions. In a way, this restaurant reminds me of my grandparents' house with floor-to-ceiling mirrors that my grandmother claims was always a way to make their tiny house appear larger. That sentiment is evident in Loren & Rose, but the mirrors in the aforementioned restaurant also capture both characters’ (but most frequently Rose’s) other side. The characters are multidimensional–and Gosch uses this physical representation as a way to express that.
Loren & Rose is both straightforward and incredibly convoluted–an enigma of sorts. Writer-Director Russell Brown creates something that walks the line between far too much and not enough, and there’s something incredibly intriguing about that. This film forces you to think, to attempt to understand what it is that we love about art in all of its forms
At its best, Loren & Rose is a brilliant venture into the psyche of anyone and everyone who loves art; at its worst, Loren & Rose is far too soap operatic, missing the mark emotionally and developing into something melodramatic that will likely be lost on viewers. There’s an ebb and flow to this film that is unrelenting, but it always lands on its feet, prepared to appeal to viewers in a series of unique and artistic ways. Loren & Rose is a beautiful representation of life, art, and everything in between.
Written & Directed by Russell Brown.
Starring Jacqueline Bisset, Kelly Blatz, Paul Sand, Erin Cahill, Gia Carides, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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