This nuanced film really struck a chord with me. Without ruining a good review with spoilers, I do not think that it is not too much information to share that the film shows a man spiraling through the various emotional depths of his personal grieving process. At the start there is a scene that makes the viewer question (along with the protagonist and his best friend) whether or not there is a "right" way to grieve. We never really get an answer. Instead, this film produces an emotionally nuanced and character-driven plot that allows us as the audience understand the sometimes conflicting emotions that bubble-up within a person when grieving. Also, this film develops into a story about who and what we turn to, and turn into, as we are changed by the experience of deep loss. Robert Cannon's ability to portray the simultaneously conflicting emotions of sorrow, anger, despair, hope, love, and even at times joy in the midst of grief truly speaks to the complexities of the grieving experience. The best friend of the protagonist, and what I'm tempted to call the bro-with-a-heart-of-gold, is played by Mark Gagliardi. However, this sometimes comical "bro" character proves more complex than just a stereotype. The best friend character in this film is also a delightfully complicated character that provides several moments of comic relief throughout the film while never becoming the archetypal fool. By the end of the film viewers never really get an answer about whether or not there is a "right" way to grieve. Without giving away too many specifics of the plot, I must say that the ending of the film left me feeling both profoundly hopeful and uncomfortable. This is anything but a cliché sports film. Nor is it a typical love, loss, or family drama. This film truly calls to mind the subtleties of that old French phrase: C'est la vie.
Review of 30-LOVE
