Two young women struggling to understand their swelling passions discover an unlikely ally in the form of an Iraq war veteran.Two young women struggling to understand their swelling passions discover an unlikely ally in the form of an Iraq war veteran.Two young women struggling to understand their swelling passions discover an unlikely ally in the form of an Iraq war veteran.
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'Allegheny Sunset' speaks to the recovery of Iraq-war veterans
As the original writer of this film, and also speaking for film-makers Ryan Hathaway and Summer Ferguson---'Allegheny Sunset' was created during possibly the worst period of the bloody Iraq-war. The budget was low but hopes were high. 'Allegheny Sunset' is the story of a homeless Iraq-war veteran (film-maker Hathaway as 'Benny Day'), recovering from illness and PTSD and living 'homeless' in the woods near a small Virginia town in a tent---and his relationship with two young women (Summer Ferguson as 'Beth-Ann' and Sarah Beth Robinette as 'Mikala'), from the town. Beth-Ann does controversial 'sex-therapy' Tupperware-style 'toy'-sales parties for the older, conservative women in this rustic town, and befriends Mikala, a victim of sexual abuse in her past. Later, Benny Day lays down his life to save Beth-Ann from an assault by Mikala's angry and sexually-frustrated step-brother, Jonovan (Matt Wright). But there's much more here---comforting Mikala, Beth-Ann finds herself drawn into intimacy and both young women are confused about their feelings. Mikala explains that she feels very painful towards men, from her abusive past---that would be Jonovan, her misogynist, woman-hating, drunk, self-destructive, angry step-brother from a failed marriage--and also her abuser, from the past, but still in her life as Mikala attends drama classes at a local community college. Benny Day, on the other hand, is like Viet Nam War veterans of another era: dazed-and-confused, suffering from shell-shock, and worse---we later learn he is actually terminally ill from exposure to Uranium-tipped phosphorus shells during Iraq-battlefield conflicts. He is philosophical, almost wistful---or is he crazy?? And also very lonely. When Beth-Ann makes friends with Benny while habitually feeding some stray, or feral cats, that she finds while hiking in the delightful wooded areas near the town---she has no idea who he is, or what's happened to him. But it's soon clear---and for a time, happiness seems easy---Benny chats with the two young-adult women about sexuality, the war, Henry David Thoreau's book 'On Walden Pond', and more. Later, Jonovan's lust for Beth-Ann explodes in violence---with predictable results. Perhaps the keystone story-note for this film, is the notion that life, war, love, lust and the exploration of feelings and emotions, are the human heritage of almost anyone---something given and granted, but during times of hellish violence, or social taboos that have been relaxed, for whatever reason---people can be thrown together in the most unusual circumstances. For Iraq-War veterans, 'Allegheny Sunset' looks at the only healing balm Mankind has ever been satisfied with---love---that of two beautiful young woman, and that of a warrior who lays down his life at last, maybe with a smile to think himself yet lovable. Film-makers on 'Allegheny Sunset' have wanted to express the hope that our film would be 'some kind of something' to touch those hearts the Iraq-war has broken so badly. And it does so, but not without blood.
helpful•10
- phillips_p
- Mar 26, 2009
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- Budget
- $4,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
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