Dangerous Sorrow Therapy

Dangerous Sorrow Therapy

Bruce Von Stiers

In the classic noir film, Sunset Boulevard, a screenwriter tries to help a faded actress regain her star status. But it doesn't end well for either of them.

There is a new film that takes things in a different direction. The film is titled Sunrise Boulevard. Instead of a has-been actress trying to regain her stardom, the film has a famous actress trying to find inspiration.

The film was written and directed by Michael Montagna. He produced the short films, Inside Me-You and Margine. An Italian from the Milan region, Michael has dual Masters degrees relating to film and communications media. Sunrise Boulevard was Michael's thesis film as his final project for Film & Media Production, one of the Masters degrees that I just mentioned. Michael also produced this film, along with Roy Shellef and Frederica Avangliano.

Miss Donen has come to the Clinic for help. The Clinic helps artists to find new insights and inspiration in their work. These artists include painters, musicians, and clothing designers. Miss Donen wants to be a Method Actor but can't seem to understand the process. She is upbeat most of the time and needs to feel sorrow or angst to access that angle of Method Acting.

Well, the clinic might just be the place for her. They are pioneering a thing called sorrow therapy. It is 1955 and the psychiatric world is combining drugs with other treatments to help or cure patients. This clinic is having patients view films of disturbing images along with a new drug called Dolorem.

Miss Donen is played by Leota Rhodes. She co-starred in His Double Life and 3 Days In Malay.

The woman running the clinic is Mrs. Spieglman. She insists that every patient completes all their treatments before they leave. She gets very agitated at Miss Donen, who seems to be just as happy and upbeat after her sessions as before them. And as Miss Donen seems to be inspiring other patients to decline their therapy sessions, Mrs. Spieglman takes a more of a nasty stance towards her. Mrs. Spieglman is played by Rebecca Ritz. She appeared in Minority Report and other films, a ton of episodes of Dhar Man and even appeared in two The Killers music videos. Her portrayal of Mrs. Spieglman might make you think of other sadistic cinematic nurses like the one in Misery or possibly Nurse Rachet from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Thrown into the mix is Elliot Newman. He is a custodian at the clinic. And we discover, he was once a famous author. His best-selling novel was what made Miss Doonen want to become an actress. Elliot is a kind of rough looking guy, who seems to have done it all and seen it all. He is a central character in the story and is crucial to the conclusion. Newman is played by Joseph Lopez. He has over eighty screen credits, including several short films and appearances in music videos.

There is also a shadowy character who seems to be the big boss. He is concerned about Miss Donen and wants Mrs. Spieglman to handle things, whatever it takes. Allen Marsh plays the big boss. He is best known for his role as Lester Thomas on Young & The Restless.

One thing that I forgot to mention earlier. Sunrise Boulevard was filmed in Black and White. Not only does this make the film fit as a period piece, but the noir aspect is also enhanced by it. The cinematography is as crisp and clear as any top tiered film from the 1950's. The cinematographer was Rocket Scott who, in addition to filming a couple of short films, provided key grip and gaffer duties on several other films.

Therapy that makes people sad to inspire their artist talents is a unique concept. I don't know If that type of therapy would work in real life, but it is very interesting.

Sunrise Boulevard blends together a need for artistic inspiration, radical psychological therapy and noir styled tensions. This makes for a very solid drama with thriller elements.

Sunrise Boulevard has been submitted to several film festivals including the Burbank International Film Festival.

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