IN MEMORY OF ME

By: debbie lynn elias

Written and directed by Samantha Lavin and starring Maryfrances Carreccia, Tasha Ames and Marina Benedict, this is the story of friendship and the tolls exacted by time, circumstance and hidden secrets. After eight years, a young lawyer returns home to her best friend’s wedding. While at home, she recalls a brief affair she had with another woman while in high school. Adding a little fuel to the fire is the fact that the woman still lives there. With the past and present colliding, IN MEMORY OF ME is a poignant look into the mirror of life.In_Memory_of_Me

Filmed on location in Idyllwild, California, IN MEMORY OF ME made its festival debut at the t Dances With Films Festival held in Los Angeles in late July. Going into the Festival, the film was already a winner of the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant thanks to early reels of work from Lavin and Director of Photography Elliott Schackne and let me tell you, it’s easy to see why. Shot in Super 16mm, the film can only be described as technically exquisite and breathtakingly beautiful. Schackne’s cinematography is comparable, if not equal to that of Academy Award nominee Eduardo Serra for his work in “The Girl With the Pearl Earring.” Crisp, clean and vividly expressive, Schackne’s excellence is only enhanced by that of director Samantha Lavin. With a clear vision of the story, calculated, clean visuals parallel the story and propel it into something not only visually stimulating, but emotional compelling.

In speaking with Samantha, she disclosed that IN MEMORY OF ME, is only a “snippet” of a full length feature. I found this surprising as so often these “parts of a whole” come across as just that – a part, an excision, a piece of a puzzle. Such is not the case with this short. Full and complete with no loose ends, it stands alone. But, I for one and am quite anxious to see what she does with the storyline of feature length production. There are various ways that she can go with it, but I am certain that no matter what story she tells, it will all be done with the same excellence as the short.

One of my MUST SEE picks of DWF, IN MEMORY OF ME subsequently went onto win Best 16mm Short at the Long Island International Film Festival and is currently screening at other upcoming festivals across the country, including the Valley Film Festival and Big Bear Festival. For information on where and when you can see one of my favorite MUST SEE FILMS OF THE YEAR, check out http://web.mac.com/fairfight/iWeb/inmemoryofme/ABOUT.html

Written and Directed by Samantha Lavin.