After an accidental pregnancy-turned-abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the six-year-old she’s charged with protecting.
Do you remember the captivating children’s book, ‘Leo the Late Bloomer’ by Robert Kraus? Dealing with mature themes such as family relationships, growing up and self-esteem, it opens with the line, “Leo couldn’t do anything right.” Unlike his classmates, he couldn’t read or write, nor did he speak. Bridget (Writer/Star Kelly O’Sullivan) is the not-so-grown up version of Leo.
Bridget’s tale begins at a party where she is listening to a boorish millennial (at the upper end of Gen Y scale) kvetching about the details of his nightmare, “I never started a family, I have no equity….I’m 34, jobless, broke and totally alone. I hate myself.” For Bridget, the existence he just described in his dream is her reality. At 34 she is in a dead-end job, she’s not in a relationship nor did she graduate from college. Her parents, much like Leo’s parents, have faith that she will eventually catch up to her generational peers.
Across the room, she exchanges glances with Jace (a remarkably natural Max Lipchitz) and like a knight in shining armor, he rescues her from the self-loathing dreamer. Although he’s on the cusp of Gen Y at 26, Jace proves to be a mensch. For once, life seems to be moving in a positive direction for Bridget.
Shortly after meeting Jace, she leaves her job as a server in a restaurant to nanny six-year-old Frances (a precocious scene-stealing Ramona Edith-Williams), the headstrong daughter of a mixed-race lesbian couple. With no special training, Bridget stumbles through the challenges of this arduous and overwhelming responsibility. And just as their relationship begins to grow and develop, Bridget learns she is pregnant. What’s a self-proclaimed agnostic feminist to do?
“Saint Frances,” directed with great sensitivity by Alex Thompson, shares elements of contemporary dramedies but the similarities end abruptly. It’s a rom-com strictly for adults which tackles real-life situations; abortion, same-sex parenting, depression (in many forms) which are but a few of the topics addressed. Somehow, they manage to infuse the storyline with humor and ………blood, lots of blood. And that’s exactly the point. The filmmaker’s goal was to acknowledge what was once taboo and/or just not discussed. Women’s bodily functions, unplanned pregnancies and postpartum depression are presented as situations that regularly occur to real people – who just might be your neighbors. Or you.
The film is resonating with audiences and festival juries alike winning the Narrative Feature Audience Award at last year’s SXSW Film Festival, L.A.’s Outfest, the American Film Festival and Chicago Critics Film Festival. Kelly O’Sullivan won the Golden Strands Award for Outstanding Screenplay at the Tallgrass International Film Festival and the Nora Ephron Prize at the Traverse City Film Festival.
One of the smartest elements of the film is the spot-on casting. Kelly O’Sullivan portrays the perfect combination of insecurity and brashness. Ramona Edith Williams (Frances) is a remarkable talent; through her non-judgmental friendship and love, both Bridget and Frances are elevated. Self-esteem rules!
Max Lipchitz plays Jace, the sweet-tempered, emotionally supportive boyfriend of Bridget. His facial expressions say everything when he learns that he isn’t as important in Bridget’s life as he had rightly assumed. As every girl’s dream boyfriend Jace is kind, good-natured, handsome and funny. He easily conveys the fact that he is truly a person of integrity and honor. Unfortunately, Bridget was looking for someone who, for instance, didn’t live with a roommate. I expect to see more of Max on the big screen soon. My brief interview with Max follows this review.
And just like in the children’s book, ‘Leo the Late Bloomer,’ Bridget and Frances discover that frustration and disappointment give way to confidence and self-awareness and each bloomed “in his/her own good time.”
Reprinted with permission and excerpted from the Texas Jewish Post.
I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to interview actor Max Lipchitz via email. Below are his answers to some of my many questions.
Susan Kandell: Where did you study acting?
Max Lipchitz: I actually found my way to acting through improv and sketch comedy. In college, I took classes and performed at ColdTowne Theater, a small comedy theater located in Austin. After school, I moved to Chicago and performed at iO and The Annoyance. I also worked on a cruise ship for 4 months with Second City.
SK: How did you hear about the role of Jace in “Saint Frances”?
ML: Alex (Thompson), the director of “Saint Frances” and I were friends and neighbors in Chicago. He reached out to me about the role after scouting my apartment, which is my character’s apartment in the film. It was great to be part of a small Chicago production with so many friends, and it’s amazing to see it doing so well. Looking forward to seeing what Alex and Kelly do next!
SK: Me too! What’s next for you?
ML: I acted in another independent feature that was shot in the fall. Currently, I’m writing and working on some personal projects in LA and training my dog, Howard.
I appreciate Max taking the time to answer my questions and we all hope we will be seeing him on the big screen sometime soon. I just hope that his dog Howard is not a “bloodhound.” You’ll just have to see the film to understand that reference!
Not Rated – Just so you know… very mature subject matter! But as Max’s wonderful grandmother Ruth informed me, “We’re all adults here!”
“Saint Frances” is now playing at the Angelika Film Centers in Dallas and Plano and at the Regal Arbor at Great Hills in Austin
