A Fistful of Love
Directed by Paul Stavropoulos
Produced by Vic Brandt
Written by Paul Stavropoulos & Meaghan Coates
Canada/United States | English | 19' | Drama, Psychological Thriller
Greta, a young intern on the set of a documentary about disability, steps behind the camera when a crew member falls ill. As Mia, the disabled subject, shares about a complicated past relationship, the director David encourages her to go deeper. What starts as empathy slowly turns to reshaping Mia’s story into a tidy narrative of victimhood. Greta watches, torn between protecting her job and standing up for the woman in front of her. As the manipulation worsens, Greta ultimately sees the grey as black and white, and she decides to sabotage the film, risking her future in a messy, impulsive act of defiance.
Not often am I left speechless after a film, but filmmaker Paul Stavropoulos’s deft exploration of exploitation, predators, and the nobility of a filmmaker did just that. The performances are lights-out great, with a tremendous turn by Meaghan Coates (who wrote the screenplay with Stavropoulos), capitalizing on the humanity of the moment, imbuing each character with evolving senses of discomfort and fear. The cinematography by Justin Black gorgeously uses closeups to mine the intricacies of each performance; it's the tasteful application of a true craftsman. As a whole I was floored by how well everything came together; it’s a film made by the deft hand of artists with something to say.
Christopher Francis, Programmer