WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The ties that bind. When it comes to remaining connected with those elements within our lives that mean the most, abrupt or unanticipated, prolonged separation from these things can initiate either more intense yearning to be reunited with said things, or possibly create a chasm in us that needs to be filled. However, whether we are open to receive that which could bring inner healing or only cause more sense of isolation remains to be seen when faced with the realities of not only our own circumstances, but that of others close and dear to us as well. Such may be the scenario about to unfold for two sisters, the older one Ines (Anna Carvalho) and the younger Marine (Alix Richard).
Taking the time to come and visit her little sis in the warmth and sunshine of Miami, the two take the opportunity to grab a small boat and head out into waters of Key Biscayne to take in the historic site known as Stiltsville, where the pair dock to enjoy some conversation and relaxation. At first, it seems like a simple enough endeavor to just engage in casual chatter and catch up a bit, given the painfully estranged distance their normal proximity to one another presents, one in France and the other in Florida. Yet, even as they experience some initial sisterly banter, it conjures up in each of them buried conflicts that have shaped each of their lives, with revealing glimpses into choices made and challenges to change being presented.
Next, my Mind:
Undemanding, straightforward, and filled with a delicately executed sense of intense personal interplay between characters battling their inner demons and desire for reconciliation and reconnection, this 15-minute indie short film effort from writer/director/editor Adam Walters displays the kind of realistically grounded, impactful storytelling that independent cinema thrives on. On the surface, just being honest, the film could be only taken at face value as a story of two siblings coming together after what sounds like a hard childhood to try and keep their own relationship alive, despite the obstacles of distance, past familial tension, and an older siblings tendency to want to naturally protect and “mother” whom they see as their younger charge. While these foundational facets of the basic tale are present, this critic found it a much deeper journey of the sisters gravitating towards the ultimate inner healing they’ve both been desperate for and that has eluded them for far too long, all while believing they’ve got the solutions to each others’ struggles, as we all as human beings often wish to believe when it comes to being there for someone we care for.
But even in the moments of typical sisterly disagreement and very mildly frustrated attempts at finding some common ground after this timespan they’ve been away from one another, there’s an underlying longing they both possess to unload specific burdens they’ve carried, and to watch that slowly come to the surface in the midst of the pair just relishing each other’s company is heartfelt and believable here, illustrating the innate value of being willing to find someone to confide in with confidence and transparency when something has been eating away at you, unspoken and/or unresolved. It’s all about things lost being rediscovered, both literally and figuratively here, and the means by which the film delivers these notions again speaks to the heart and soul of human relationship and the core of family bonds that can transcend the obstacles being faced. Additionally it is the power of forgiveness and the acceptance of the way things will stay, even when not always being ideally the outcomes we might wish for in a given situation, and the ultimate solace the characters sought is wonderfully laid out in a subtle, but no less potent, finale to the film.
Veteran actress Carvalho brings the aura of a worried yet deeply caring older sibling to bear in her role as Ines, a woman still in her prime whose come to Miami from across the sea to seek out and spend time with her alienated younger sister in Miami. Hoping to share in the magnificent and calming beauty of the waters outside of Key Biscayne, she makes purposeful attempts to just have uncomplicated conversation and comraderie with Marine, who is just as happy to see her beloved older sister for the first time in quite a spell. Yet, as Ines tries on the most fundamental levels to relax and take in their time together, her desire to get to the bottom of Marine’s time away from the family soon comes to the surface, causing just a minor flutter of unease and mild defensiveness from Marine. Yet, through it all, Ines is able to aid in Marine talking about her past and present, even re-introducing her to each of their oldest and favorite hobbies as well, creating a series of touching moments between them that solidifies their reunion, even as Marine makes a plea to Ines to escape her own life battles that come to light. It’s a stirring bit of relational dynamics and Carvalho is perfectly believable in her performance with both humorous and serious moments handled with the same committed poise.
As such, there’s an equally effective and affecting presence that’s brought into existence through Richard’s role as Marine, a truly complete opposite of her older sister via pursuing a free-spirited and understandably more youthful lifestyle living away from home for many years in the outgoing city of Miami, an evident “fun in the sun” approach. But, Marine is hiding a very painful truth about her past and the family she left behind that even though not always obvious, still weighing her down inside. Even as she embraces Ines’ visit and the fun they gain in traversing the pristine waters of Miami to visit Stiltsville, she seems to want to just have a tranquil period of togetherness without really delving into her own issues, which happens at first until the factors involved with their chats start taking certain turns that cause both of them to bring up the realities of where in life they find themselves. For Marine, it becomes a sudden necessity, whether voluntary or not, to express some feelings about the decisions she made to isolate herself from the pair’s parents, which Ines sees as something that needs healing. But then it also brings about Ines’ own relational difficulties as well, and Marine only wants what’s best for her sister, which is communicated and enacted with earnest and unfeigned emotive strength by Richard.
In total, with the atmospheric appeal of the sun-drenched skies, sparkling waters, and history-infused stilt homes as its backdrop, “Stiltsville Sisters” is a touching narrative that really should promote more of us recognizing the importance of not letting the ghosts of the past remain undealt with, but rather find that certain someone, whether family or friend, and make efforts to release those burdens and enjoy the benefits of, as mentioned earlier, rediscovery, reconciliation, and re-establishment of relationships that mean the most, guide us most truthfully, and are always founded on the love we need to possess for one another as people.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
