By: debbie lynn elias
From a purely emotional and personal level, there is nothing in DWF or anywhere else that will top GOLDEN. Speaking for myself, I fervently hope that writer/director Kjell Kvanbeck does see GOLDEN through to becoming a feature film. I was in tears the entire film just with this short and I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to make a story so dear to his heart into this film. But I am so glad he did.
Hank and Maria have been married 50 years. Today is their Golden Wedding Anniversary. With his gnarled hands, he works diligently and patiently at his meticulous and orderly work bench. Life is routine. He tinkers with his tools. As evidenced by the throw blankets on the couch, Maria crochets. The house is neat as a pin. Grass gets mowed, flowers get watered. The dishes get done. Symbiotic. Synergistic. For 50 years. Hank and Maria. And today, on their anniversary, Hank has refinished Maria’s wedding band. As he goes into the house to give her the gift, something is amiss. Maria has passed away. Sitting on the couch, in her favorite spot. Unable to accept what has happened, Hank goes about his day, their day, as they have done for 50 years. But what happens when day is done and Hank is forced to say good-bye.
My own paternal grandparents were married 60 or 64 years. I can’t even recall the specifics it was so long. The only time they were ever apart was on two occasions when my grandmother was hospitalized and then when my grandfather had surgery and months later when he passed. He died on their wedding anniversary. My grandmother was taken to the hospital that morning to visit him. His last words to her were “Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart.” Since she had errands to do, mending to do, flowers to water, mail to get from the mailbox – a typical day – her friend took her home and was to take her back to the hospital later in the day for another visit. But the friend picked my grandmother up 15 minutes late. My grandfather died 10 minutes before she got back to see him that day. It was as if he was waiting, knowing she was coming and also knowing how punctual she was. Needless to say, for me, GOLDEN is beyond golden.
Kjell Kvanbeck captures a single moment in time with simple emotional elegance. The truth and beauty in the simplicity of the story is perfectly rendered. The open windows, delicate curtains, flowers in the garden, crotcheted blanket on the sofa, Hank’s peg board and work bench, the quilted 3/4 length sleeve housecoat on Maria, brown paper & twine wrapping on her anniversary gift to him – appropriately, a sweater.
A filmic grain and slightly aged patina with a softness of light like a fading sun, metaphorically set the tone for golden years, golden anniversary, a golden life. Beautiful imagery with water – watering the flowers and washing the dirt away, running the water in the sink for the tea kettle. Tacit eloquent metaphor for tears. Sound design is precious with the tick tock of the clock in the background.
Casting is perfection. Although Bain Boehlke and Wendy Lehr may have been working together in theater for 50 years, taking that familiarity to the level of devotion and adoration that Boehlke delivers goes beyond performance and straight to the heart. These two are peas in a pod, soulmates, emotional singularity – all of which Boehlke proves within mere minutes on screen. He immediately thrusts himself and us into the heart of the relationship with a comfortable ease that only comes from a lifetime of love.
There is never a moment that is not genuine nor that one doesn’t believe that these two are soulmates for life. GOLDEN is pure gold.
Written and Directed by Kjell Kvanbeck
Cast: Bain Boehlke, Wendy Lehr
