The Same Storm

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Celia I loved loved loved this film. Beautifully written and performed. Everyones story was told In such an intimate and perceptive way but with an economy of words that made the piece feel completely authentic and totally natural. And the performances were exceptional. It takes you back to that time but in the most human and poignant ways. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/15/22 Full Review Evan M During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed as though creative minds would be forced to remain in a state of limbo until the world re-opened its doors, writer/director Peter Hedges created a work of art that transcends the limits of the medium and inspires people to hold on to hope, even when times may seem darkest. "The Same Storm" tells the stories of 24 different characters during the Spring of 2020. With the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and the looming 2020 election as backdrops, Hedges takes viewers on an emotional journey as each of the different characters realizes the importance of human connection in all of its forms at a time when physical connections were cut off. What makes "The Same Storm" special is how accurately it paints a picture of real-life experiences that many people went through in 2020. Hedges' relatable screenplay is as much the star of the film as any of the all-star cast members he was able to put together to appear in it. Hedges was somehow able to put his finger on the pulse of nearly every different kind of heartbreaking or uplifting experience that people were able to have during the pandemic through a screen. The film's innovative use of technology to tell this story is another element that makes it a unique chronicle, especially compared to other pandemic films that have been released over the past few years. Whereas films like "Locked Down" and "The Bubble" failed in parts due to their poor attempts of being relatable and current with some of the experiences that people around the world went through, "The Same Storm" does everything right by simply allowing its actors to breathe with the beautiful material that they have been given. The decision to film using iPhones and to make it seem as though the characters are speaking over a service like Zoom makes the film feel all the more intimate and invokes memories of the struggles and frustrations of the winter of 2020. Hedges has assembled a wildly diverse cast from areas all over the entertainment sphere, including superstars like Sandra Oh, Moses Ingram, Mary-Lousie Parker, Elaine May and so many more. While certain actors and the segments that they have are stronger than others, everyone turns in magnificent performances. Each actor seems to understand the gravity of the stories that are being told. They know that these are actual experiences that many people have personally experienced, from the loss of a loved one to family political differences. They execute their performances with the utmost respect, which is refreshing and extremely important to see from a production like this. As mentioned previously, some segments are stronger than others. While none of them are poorly done, they are rather slow at times and seem to bog the film down. However, Hedges rewards viewers for sticking it through these slower segments. Every scene in the film has its own message or theme that connects to another segment. Each of these messages is meaningful and leaves viewers with an ample amount of material to reflect on once the film ends. "The Same Storm" is a historically important chronicle that truly celebrates humanity and film as an art form. It is a film that will be looked back on years from now when the next generation learns about what people from all walks of life went through during one of its darkest periods. They'll watch this film and feel much like those who see it today and who have experienced some of what is displayed on-screen. They'll feel inspired to hope and inspired to love. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/02/22 Full Review Read all reviews

The Same Storm

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