Gold Star (2017) Reviews

• Love, loss and caregiving

  leenyc99-12018-04-22

  In Negri's quiet film debut, you feel as if you're entering her character's living room and watching the actions play out in a very intimate way, as if you're part of the family . Negri and Robert Vaughn give strong, understated performances that feel truthful and pull you in close. The film has so many beautiful and tender moments that feel very personal, even autobiographical. I think it's an amazing debut achievement with a distinct voice and I look forward to future titles by this director.

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• A young woman's life changes when she becomes a caregiver to her father after he suffers a stroke.

  desdemona842017-07-20

  It's not easy to make a compelling film about a character who's mired in inaction, but Gold Star achieves that with a thoughtful and moving portrayal of a woman moving adrift through her life until a family emergency forces her to uproot her current situation and make some immediate changes. There has been much conversation among feminist and artist circles about the importance of telling stories about complex women - women who are flawed and real and not necessarily "likable" in the traditional sense. Vicki is that kind of character we're looking for. She resents having to change her life to help take care of her father, even though her life was unfulfilling. She's brittle and caustic to people who don't deserve it. But she's also unhappy and lost, wanting answers without knowing the right questions to ask. As a director, Victoria Negri shows several scenes of Vicki lying in bed, aimlessly looking over her phone, juxtaposed with scenes of her running faster and faster - towards what? We don't know, and neither does Vicki. Her journey to self-fulfillment has no easy answers. Vicki is both helped and hindered by the people in her life - by her family members, friends, and love interests. The character relationships make up the strongest aspect of this moving film. The love between her parents, played wonderfully by Catherine Curtin and the late Robert Vaughn in his last screen role, has none of the showiness of on-screen dramatic romances, and all of the tenderness, compassion, and devotion of a real-life married couple. Vicki's relationship with her mother, relatively honest with open communication, contrasts with the more distant relationship with her father, which changes and progresses realistically as she grows into her caregiving role and they understand each other better - ironically, after he's lost the ability to speak. Not enough can be said about the talent of Robert Vaughn, communicating so effectively with a wordless performance. This thoughtful, moving story is a truly impressive debut from Victoria Negri, who has definitely become a filmmaker to watch.

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• The Perks of Going Home Again

  fiorj2017-06-27

  Victoria Negri's partially autobiographical narrative feature film debut, "Gold Star," is an honest, artful, and nuanced portrayal of how the illness and loss of a much older parent impacts a young Juilliard dropout's self-perception, identity, and ability to connect with those around her. Negri plays Vicki, who initially wants nothing more than to continue her life in New York City with her boyfriend. She resents the set of circumstances that requires her to move home to Connecticut to become the primary caregiver to her elderly father who has suffered a stroke, is confined to a wheelchair, and has lost his ability to speak. The father is masterfully played by Oscar-nominated actor Robert Vaughn (The Young Philadelphians, The Magnificent Seven) appearing in his final film role before his death. Negri's raw scenes skillfully portray Vicki's alienation from her father and her exasperation at not understanding what he needs. Assuming the responsibility of being a caregiver does not come naturally for her, causing her to question not only how her parents raised her, but also whether she could be a good wife and mother in the future. However, amidst the tense complexities of family dynamics, the journey home moves Vicki out of her paralyzing self-absorption and discontent, and allows her to see and understand the importance of compassion and the responsibility that adult children have toward aging parents. The film's artful cinematography, polished direction and editing, together with moments of humorous relief add special texture and human warmth to the film. Vaughn's performance is remarkable in that he speaks no audible lines in the entire film, instead "voicing" everything through his powerfully expressive eyes. Vicki's revealing conversations with her new friend and prospective love interest, Chris (Jacob Heimer) complement the silent "speaking" of her father. Thematically, "Gold Star" traces how Vicki, new to adult life, realizes that she has more in common with her father in the last stage of his than she could have ever imagined. By learning how to care for and communicate with her father, she in turn, comes to a mature appreciation of relationships that are healthy, and finds the courage to end those that are not. "Gold Star," with its well-crafted script, notable performances, and thoughtful filmmaking, poignantly entertains, moves, and engages the audience from beginning to end. 26 June 2017 Jennifer Emily Fiore (United States)

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• Great debut, coming-of-age feature

  michaelgoldburg2017-06-19

  Victoria Negri's "Gold Star" is a beautifully shot, well-acted, and moving debut feature inspired by events in her own life. A twenty-something music school dropout, Vicki (exceptionally played by Negri herself) is aimless in her life until her father (played by Robert Vaughan, incredible in his final screen role) suffers a stroke and she becomes one of his reluctant caregivers. Drawing closer to her father, her mother (brilliantly played by Catherine Curtin), and ultimately herself, Vicki finally confronts the crossroads in her life, with a little help from a budding relationship with Chris (Jacob Heimer), who's struggling with his own personal demons. Full of authentic details and performances, "Gold Star" also employs poetic, lyrical visuals to frame Vicki's isolation at her dead-end job as well as her running in front of an omnipresent island off the Connecticut coast where the film was shot. Negri has mentioned "Five Easy Pieces" as an influence, and the comparison is apt. Both films have protagonists struggling with personal, existential crises while trying to connect with fathers who have suffered strokes. Vicki is ultimately more successful than Jack Nicholson's character as evident in the transcendent final scene of the film where Vaughan and Negri share an intimate moment, staring out across the ocean together. You get a real sense of Vicki finally becoming her true self, ironically through a deeper connection with her father.

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• Loving and challenging

  photography-445302019-05-10

  This is a moving and sensitive portrayal of family relationships and end of life issues. No flaws here, just beautiful, fragile humanity. I loved it.