Patrick W
This is a thoughtful, beautifully-played drama about a woman starting her life again after a tragedy that upturns her comfortable life. This movie asks, what is it like to find yourself starting over when you least expect it and aren't prepared for it? the writer-director, Catherane Skillen, plays Ava, a woman whose life is upturned after her partner's death. She's essentially a widow but what makes Ava interesting is that she's not tied legally to her longtime partner and must start her life. Skillen beautifully and subtly plays Ava with the perfect mix of fear, hopefulness, and determination. There's strong supporting performances from Tannis Benedict and Steve Dellatori. The honestly of the performances really sells this the story. If the story teaches us anything is that you should always have contingency plans for your future. I highly recommend this movie to those facing a new start and hoping to find a way forward.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
12/28/24
Full Review
Dan H
AVA: A Twist in the Road is a poignant indie drama that delves into themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Written, directed, and starring Catherane Skillen, the film follows Ava, a middle-aged woman whose life is upended after the sudden death of her partner, Bobby. Left destitute and directionless, Ava confronts the harsh realities of relying entirely on someone else for financial and emotional stability. As she navigates grief and begins to rebuild her life, Ava transitions from a vulnerable, grieving woman to a confident and resilient individual. Skillen's heartfelt performance brings authenticity to Ava's journey, capturing the emotional waves of loss and transformation. Though the film stumbles with uneven editing and an unnecessary subplot, its raw narrative and relatable themes resonate deeply. A hopeful and candid cautionary tale, the film reminds viewers of the importance of independence and self-reliance, even amidst life's toughest challenges.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
12/27/24
Full Review
Andrew W
Ava (Catherane Skillen who also wrote and directed) lives a comfortable life in Los Angeles with her wealthy partner Bobby who provides her with everything.
Their serene existence is shattered when Bobby has a heart attack while driving resulting in his death in a car crash.
This tragic event puts Ava on a collision coarse with Bobby's estranged son Robert (Steve Dellatori) a man still bitter and enraged by the fact when he was still a child Bobby cast aside his mentally ill mother and left her to languish inside a mental hospital and started over again with Ava. Since Ava and Bobby were never married, Robert has inherited his fathers company and finances intending to use everything in his power to get even with Ava.
The film has some very simple but powerful scenes like when Ava comes home alone after the accident and looks at everything, she has built which has been reduced to nothing. Its cleverly framed with wide shots and high angles which only highlight Avas loneliness and isolation. Grief is such an individual experience which the filmmakers beautifully demonstrate.
The film is not without light as it follows Ava as she finds out the hard way, she has to pay her own way and shows her awkward attempts to break into the job market and find work
.
I related to this part the most. Everyone has had something bad happen to them and have to rebuild and start over. It's not easy.
What i found interesting the film covers an older demographic that gets little to no attention or acknowledgement whatsoever in Hollywood and cinema around the world.
This is definitely a film told from a unique perspective of grief tragedy and resilience.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
12/23/24
Full Review
Bob R
"AVA: A Twist in the Road" is an emotionally rich and deeply satisfying journey that stands out for its nuanced portrayal of resilience and self-discovery. Catherane Skillen brings an impressive range as Ava, capturing her character's growth with authenticity and grace. The film doesn’t rely on grand gestures or high drama; instead, it resonates through a more quiet and contemplative lens, showing the subtle power of transformation after loss. Skillen’s direction beautifully balances moments of vulnerability with Ava’s eventual strength, making for a heartfelt experience. The film is visually modest but thematically profound, exploring ageism, materialism, and self-worth without overstatement. This understated approach allows Ava’s journey to feel universally relatable, especially for audiences reflecting on life transitions. "AVA" is a moving tribute to finding purpose beyond life’s material comforts and will likely inspire viewers to redefine their own ideas of success and happiness.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/12/24
Full Review
D A
LET IT GO.
Writer, director and lead actress Catherane Skillen takes a deep dive in her feature film AVA: A TWIST IN THE ROAD. Ava is a mature woman who's been living the good life in the care of her lover Bobby, a lovely older man who is her senior. Twenty-five years together Ava longs for more time with Bobby, more holidays together, more dinners, just more. Bobby gives as much of himself as he can spare and early on gives Ava an expensive gift, a token of his love which Ava cherishes. When Bobby's life takes an expected twist so does Ava's. Grieving the loss of her beloved, Ava falls into a deep grief trying to find herself in the shattering of her own life with Bobby gone. A coming-of-age tale of sorts Ava tries on many different aspects of herself as one might change their hair or clothes all the while asking herself, who am I? This self examination of Ava is beautifully portrayed in the skillful hands of Director Catherane Skillen's who never strays from the tough emotions and hard work involved in allowing one's self to move forward onto the next chapter of life. Highly recommend.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/14/24
Full Review
Ruby C
Ava: A Twist In The Road is a film written, directed by and starring Catherane Skillen. This film centers around love, loss and life changes. Ava loses the love of her life unexpectedly and because she was so dependent on him her life takes an unexpected turn. It is nice to see a film with older characters sharing a story that many may experience and one where the main character needs to find her way again. It is a life lesson that no matter how in love you may be, it is smart to maintain some form of independence which in turn might make a loss gentler to navigate. It is also reminder to have our wills signed and filed before our passing so our wishes may be followed thru with. It is a hopeful story with likable characters, all except the son, that is worth watching.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/19/24
Full Review
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