Longtime readers may remember my posting a couple of film shorts written and directed by a Notre Dame student named Joe Gleason, a young man with an eye for beauty and a way of communicating great depth of feeling in small moments.
My first exposure to Gleason came from Fausta’s blog, where she called Gleason’s The Dinner Guest “…a wonderful combination of familiarity and yearning.”. She was exactly right. I called the film “an exquisite little gem.” It gave me chills the first time I watched, and the comments and emails on it suggested it resonated with many viewers, who encountered in the film a real depth of longing within themselves.
I posted another of Gleason’s shorts, The Hospital Ward, which is very different, from the first, but also very good.
The filmmaker has finished up his work at Notre Dame with a more ambitious short, which was shot in some beautiful English countryside (and features a cameo-appearance by a very famous steam engine). Gleason calls this two-parter Almost Evening, and himself plays the role of Danny. Once again, he taps into a warm sibling relationship and he dares to explore a surprising topic. I like it very much, particularly the ironic little touch at the end.
Having never met Joe Gleason except through his films, I hope he has a bright future ahead of him, and wish him success in an industry that is tough to break into. He has a deft touch, an expansive affection for humanity, and an instinct for mercy. His films seem good for both heart and soul. We need that, I think. Good luck, Joe!
[...] A Young Filmmaker of Promise [...]
In The Dinner Guest, what is the music?!
[That's Bryn Terfel singing the Welsh lullabye, “Suo-Gan.” - admin]
[...] http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/2009/12/31/a-young-filmmaker-of-promise/ [...]
Thank you! A lovely film…and…The Hogwarts Express! My son the railfan was thrilled
It is my good fortune to know Joe Gleason, and to have hosted him while he filmed Almost Evening in England. The rolling countryside shots where filmed from atop my erstwhile Prius using the extensive camera mounts and equipment he lugged from Notre Dame…
I agree with your assessment; Joe is developing the ability to express the human spirit with nuanced dialogue and expression. I look forward to his entry into the professional market!! You go, Joe!
O.T.–Will you be changing out your patron saint for the year tomorrow??
I liked the film “Almost Evening” as it is a slice of life. I am trying to put things like Joe’s film in my life to settle myself and find the peace that is truly God. It is too easy to get distracted and keep yelling at the news channels. Thank You! Happy New Year!
An excellent little slice of life. Reminiscent of the Merchant-Ivory of the old days. I hope to see Joe’s name in lights before too long. Let’s find a way to fund young filmmakers like this!
And as someone who does know Joe, your assessment of him is dead on … “He has a deft touch, an expansive affection for humanity, and an instinct for mercy.”
My aunt joined a convent to become a nun back in the sixties. Like Danny, my father (her only brother) tried to talk her out of it.
She joined in December when she was the only new one there. She broke a cup and when scolded she responded with “Tell me how much it is and I’ll get my mother to buy a new one!”
I think she was kind of like Maria in The Sound of Music. The final straw came when she saw one of the older nuns disrobed and dressed in her underwear and began to giggle.
It was mutually decided she was not nun material and she left and later got married and had five children.
She’s a very devout Catholic and says if she had joined in June with more girls she might have made it but she was very lonely.
Almost Evening reminds me of her story. Thank you for sharing and may you and those you love receive God’s blessings throughout the New Year.
The man has talent. I’ve enjoyed all his films that you’ve shown. He has a knack with drawing the viewer into his stories. Sign of a good storyteller. I hope he goes far.
[...] Joe Gleason shows us some people waiting for somebody. via The Anchoress. [...]
[...] but but not least, the Anchoress has a wonderful recommendation concerning a young film-maker: A Young Filmmaker of Promise. Please check the link, as it has some excellent clips worth viewing. A snippet: Longtime readers [...]