WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
To lose oneself in grief is to truly be adrift, maintaining a state of being that feels all but bereft of hope that any semblance of tangible, lasting comfort will ever arrive. To gain freedom from these chains of hurt, anger, confusion, and disbelief would not be so elusive but for the fact that what we’ve lost cannot be re-gained, and when going forward seems all but impossible. For a young man named John (Austin Lyon), though initially unknown to him, life is about to teach him this lesson in one of the harshest ways imaginable, even as he enjoys his break from an East coast college to come home, take in the Arizona sunshine, and relish the company of his best friend Sarah (Katherine Hughes).
Reminiscing about all their childhood days and the bond they’ve shared for so many memorable years, the closeness they feel has grown to more yet to be explored. On the verge of newfound love, a world-shattering tragedy shakes John to the core, sending him reeling into a manic state of shock and overall harried temperament that threatens to undermine all the accomplishment and promise he has in his life, reminders of which are constant from his parents Mark (Scott Lowell) and Nancy (Brenda Jean Foley) as well as his obstinate grandmother Gale (Eve Plumb). Yet, when he meets a carefree soul named Caitlyn (Yvette Monreal), John finds a path to healing that not only helps himself, but others around him as well.
Next, my Mind:
The beauty and innocence of young love, the truly affecting, forgiving, and unyielding nature of friendship, the heart-rending isolation and coldness of loss, and the assuaging warmth of finding your way back from the brink all take turns on center stage in this wonderfully executed and stirring drama from writer/director/producer Miguel Duran. With such a fanciful start, wrenching middle, and ultimately redeeming final act, the narrative sweeps the viewer along with ease and intent in illustrating the unimpeachable and impressionable days of youth being abruptly, jarringly interrupted by a devastatingly traumatic moment in time that will forever scar yet mold the future of one young adult’s road in life. It’s a highly sobering scenario that is portrayed and, while it’s not in itself anything we haven’t seen depicted before, it’s more about the realistic and grounded approach that gets presented here that makes the film shine and carry its messages with potency and lasting impact, at least for this reviewer.
Let’s be honest–this could potentially occur to any one of us, and how we would choose to handle the ramifications of such an event is not an easily discernable thing, unless one has had the unfortunate reality of experiencing loss such as this. That’s the thing I love about independent cinema–it’s so good at presenting human stories, the human condition, and the actualities we face. This gives the viewer something to grasp onto through the emotional rollercoaster the story delivers throughout its 100-minute runtime. The cinematography beautifully embraces both the characters and the oft shown vistas of the Arizona landscape, transporting us effectively and precisely from conversations on a backyard wall, to the reaches of the desert, to the stock room of a local business, and everything in between, all converging to make the visuals speak volumes in and of themselves. Add to this the equally emotive music score and perfect song choices that accompany the proceedings and you have the makings of this indie drama’s heart and soul.
The leads here act well beyond their years yet maintain that impeccable, exuberant freshness of youth in playing their respective roles, starting with Lyons as John, a smart, conservative, and level-headed kid whose future is all but assured in attending a top notch college and keeping his nose clean. All of this is further encouraged by his best friend Sarah, whom he’s been close with since childhood, and that has allowed him to have that one source to come to whether to talk things out and just have fun with, without it ever going to the next level. On the cusp of this occurring, the disastrous event takes place that will change this dynamic forever, and watching as John spirals is deeply heartbreaking, truly wondering if he’ll ever make it back to happiness and fulfillment. Seeing this get nurtured again through meeting Caitlyn and the events that transpire from this new connection is very moving and real, played throughout with superb poise and impassioned demeanor by Lyons.
Hughes likewise burns bright in her performance as Sarah, literally and figuratively the girl next door whom has captured John’s attention and, even if he won’t admit it much, his heart for years. Always being positive and playful in her manner with him, Sarah is more than evidently that foundational attachment John has and she is more than willing to challenge him when needed while being overtly flirtatious with him to finally get him to realize how he feels about her. Yet, when dire circumstance interferes so overtly with this friendship, Sarah finds herself becoming the voice of reason for John, his conscious, and seeing how she reacts to all the newly revealed relationships he’s formed, especially with Caitlyn, is both poignant and palpable, but yet so necessary to ensure John finds the inner healing he so desperately requires. Hughes’ angelic beauty, sublime smile, and down-t0-earth personality effortlessly lends so much relatability and believability to Sarah’s character the entire time.
Monreal brings a mildly sassy, rebellious streak and delightful change of pace to the film in her role as Caitlyn, a local girl John meets upon taking a job where his father works after choosing to remain back from college for a spell in the wake of things. At first realizing John isn’t quite like the other guys working at the store, she immediately takes a shine to him, even as she begins to introduce him to a slightly wilder side of life that is a polar opposite from what he’s used to. At first John gives into this, most likely as a coping mechanism for his internal strife, which Caitlyn is more than willing to entertain until finally discovering what his real struggle is. Wanting to help and be a point of focus for him to try and get refocused on his life, Caitlyn dives in wholeheartedly, though potential sorrow lies on the horizon if she can’t make him see that going forward isn’t a bad thing. Overall, Monreal infuses the character with a bubbly, mischievous, yet loving nature suited very well to the story’s themes.
Primary supporting turns come in the form of Lowell as John’s father who’s battling demons of his own and needing a push to pursue his own better opportunities, Foley as John’s mother Nancy, a woman torn to pieces by her son’s sadness and initially wayward decision-making but who strives to point him in the right direction, and veteran actress Plumb as John’s often hilariously headstrong grandmother Gale who’s love for her grandson knows no bounds, also willing to tell it like it is for the sake of getting him back on track. Additional supporting roles include Marisilda Garcia as Sarah’s mom, Joseph Lake Guffey as the store supervisor Chad, Kimball Farley and Christopher Hief as John and Caitlyn’s co-workers Alex and Jason, plus appearances from Chad Sano and Shepsut Wilson. In total, “Monsoon” is a solidly grounded, well put-together character drama with a wealth of sentiment and intensity, willing to address the always relevant subject of loss, while most importantly showing that when it comes down to it, when the pain has subsided, it’s truly ok to do what’s needed most–let go and move on.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
