A Young Filmmaker of Promise

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.

Gleason; Gorgeous Short Films

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!