IConertoForAbigailFINAL from Jan Corran on Vimeo. directed by:
Jan Miller Corran written by: Jan Miller Corran genre: Drama |
For myself personally, as a kid who was raised in a musical household that has a father as a professional musician – a piano player no less, very similar to the main character of Samantha Porter in "Concerto For Abigail" – you realize that there's a time limit ticking in the background for how long an artist can use their extraordinary skills. Whether it's simply age or more extreme circumstances - like how Sam has to confront a medical condition that threatens her hearing and livelihood, the grains of the hourglass are continually draining, and Father Time is as undefeated in his battle as he's ever been. We can't outrun the clock no matter who we are or how amazing our talents can be; it's a harsh reality, but that's what we're dealing with in Jan Miller Corran's "Concerto For Abigail."
It's hardly all grim. In fact, many of the scenes you'll find in this movie are quite charming. While there is a central obstacle in Sam's hearing loss that plays a significant role here, you could easily argue that "Concerto For Abigail" is much more of a love story. The scenes shared between Sam (Monica Young) and Abigail (Andrea Bogart) are quite endearing, and you'll find additional sweetness in moments like when the hosts of a concert have no idea who Sam's guest is - and carry a bottle of champagne around to each table in the search for Abigail. As just about everyone on earth knows, finding love is no easy task to begin with, but when you throw in the loss of hearing as an additional barrier, it becomes an even tougher challenge to navigate successfully. With an LGBTQ-inspired storyline that morphs to center around Sam and Abigail's blossoming romance, there's an appealing and inclusive sweetness to this film that's certain to appeal to many people out there - and provides sorely needed representation as well. That being said, I think it could also be argued that the love story also makes "Concerto For Abigail" struggle a bit. Don't get me wrong, it's pleasant and enjoyable…but by the same token, if you're a "love is love" type of person that's accepting of all relationships, this movie ends up becoming a bit on the ordinary side as a result. It's filmed in a fairly Lifetime movie-esque way with very warm lenses and all that, which come off both as professional yet a bit removed from that real-life kind of view that would potentially make a story like this seem a bit more grounded to us. It's one of those fine lines to walk as a director…the cleaner the shots are, the clearer the story becomes – but in applying that method, you can often turn reality into fantasy without necessarily intending to. "Concerto For Abigail" ultimately deals with very real substance at the core of its story, and I'd assume that many folks out there would feel like having a grittier look would help Jan enhance the details in a way that would make a movie like this end up being more down to earth. Still, Corran's professionalism is noticeable in how this is all filmed, but finding the right match for substance and style can also go a long, long way when it comes to how many people see something. That being said, there are a ton of folks out there who pretty much can't even live without their daily dose of a Lifetime-esque type of film, so don't get me wrong, I can only write of my personal preference. The loss of any one of our five senses can definitely impose a feeling of isolation that we've never experienced before, but it's certainly more tragic when the particular sense you need the most is also the same one that provides you with the most joy in life, like in Samantha's case. We feel that empathetically in watching her experience onscreen, and I'd imagine many of us can put ourselves in a similar situation where even thinking about such a fate would make us shudder. I like the inclusion of the music into this film, even though I'd probably argue there was still a bit of room for more of it. I also liked the relationship between Abigail and Sam. That checks out, too.
The supporting cast is easily on par with the actors in the lead roles, which gives "Concerto For Abigail" consistency across the board but also leaves it without any singular standout performance - that really seems like it's a cut above any other. Some folks like that, others want to see the main stars stealing the show…since you can't please everyone anyhow, I suppose it's fair to say that what Corran gets out of her cast is very effective overall. Katherine (Christine Grantz Sheppard) has a noteworthy scene towards the end of the first hour as the obtrusive and obnoxious manager, which also reveals an unknown secret in the plot that gives "Concerto For Abigail" a significant twist you won't see coming, though it's not too significant in how the story moves from there. On a technical level, it's got what it needs to have. There's a story here, and though it's a very familiar topic, more so in that this is a love story as opposed to remaining focused on what could have been the more unique aspect of Sam's impending health issues, "Concerto For Abigail" is still cohesive from start to finish. It has likeable characters, it has a plot that we can understand and potentially relate to in our own unique ways, and it's also filmed in a very clean way that makes sure to capture the full scope of this idea onscreen in a way that everyone will be able to comprehend. There might not be a major 'wow' moment of suspense or drama included here, but it is still a nice experience overall. As watchable as it is, it's also like "Concerto For Abigail" is somewhat missing that scene or two that people will continue to talk about long after it's over - or that spark to warrant a repeat viewing. The fundamentals are covered in this movie, but it does feel like it could have used a lot more. It's designed to be sweet and uplifting in a heartwarming way, and I feel like it succeeds in that. There's definitely a lot of opportunity to explore Sam's journey outside of the love story, and by the time this movie is over, it feels like we just scratched the surface of that. "Concerto For Abigail" is a snapshot of Sam's life experience, and while that's pleasant enough to watch & help us pass the time, it's also on par with simply keeping tabs on your neighbour next door. I'm going with a solid three stars out of five. It's a solid entertainment option. |
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