Reviews

I seem to be in the minority of those I've talked to about this, in that I felt like I 'got it' the first time I saw it. I've had the pleasure to view this short in both the 2002 Atlanta and Dances With Films festivals, and for my money, it is quite an accomplishment. On a technical level, it is really beyond criticism, obviously being the work of very experienced hands, particularly in its photography and production design. Where some people seem to have a problem with it is in the storytelling: I have heard it criticized as 1) confusing, 2) too 'deep', or 3) not as deep as it would like to think it is. True, there is little dialogue, and the story is mainly told with exquisitely crafted shots, each held long enough to impress upon you that they surely must be wrought with meaning. The thing is, they ARE. Basically, 'Epiphany' leaves it up to the viewer to connect the dots, and to me, they all connect. This is not really a narrative piece; I actually think of it as more of a tone poem. It is very impressionisticly subjective in it's storytelling methodology, and for me, that is the yardstick by which we should truly measure art. 'Epiphany' may not be perfect (and it isn't), but in a word, it IS art. (I have no idea why the line breaks appeared here, but I can't get rid of them. Oh, well.)

this shoot was one of the most enjoyable of my life! Jamie and Emily were so warm and pleasant to be around that it spoiled me against doing big pictures... ANYWAY, the finished product is a good movie, one that I am proud to be associated with. The impact that the town of Mentone had on me is even more lasting and profound, though: it is something of a personal touchstone for purity and beauty. A picture of the Brow (see the film!) is on my desk as I type this. The majesty of this place was well-captured, and the experience of seeing it on a big screen can only hint at it's power in person...

Track down the movie and see what I mean.