HERITAGE DAY – A Review by Jenn Rohm
A new short directed and written by Lara Everly, Heritage Day, touches on the serious subject of the Holocaust with use of dark comedy and the trials of everyday life.
It is 1985 and Sarah (Rachel Bloom) and James (Scott Michael Foster) are about to watch their daughter’s performance for her class Heritage Day. With a new baby leading to little sleep by either parent, they realize they don’t know to whom Evie (Vivien Lyra Blair) spoke. It ends up she spoke to her Maternal Grandmother who was a holocaust survivor. Evie has decided to experience what the Holocaust was like and starts making choices about clothing, food, and other basic needs. Sarah of course is concerned that she is not being a good mother and reflects on her relationship with her own Mother.
Filled with bright colors, geometric patterns, and big hair I was taken back to my childhood. Our parents and school barely touched on the atrocities others experienced at the hands of Rulers/Politicians. Adults want to protect children and not introduce them to how ugly the world can be. Children learning about things ask hard questions that may not have answers. Add in the shame and the guilt those events create and it is hard to have a real conversation.
Most of the key creatives of the piece are mothers themselves. Including cinematographer Meena Singh who was 8 months pregnant during filming. I believe this added a level of insight that can be felt while watching. As much as parents want their children to grow and learn, they also want to control them, and that is not always possible.
Bentonville Film Festival short entry
Director: Lara Everly
Written By: Lara Everly
Cast: Kirk Fox, Rachel Bloom Vivien Lyra Blair, Scott Michael Foster
MPAA Rating: Not yet rated.
Genres: Short, Comedy
Selig Rating: 4 Stars
Runtime: 19m 38s
Movie Site: Heritage Day website
Streaming on Binged www.binged.com
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
