Who Loves the Sun

Walking the line between comedy and drama is never an easy task. Most of the time, the tone of a film slips too far to one side or the other and the audience is left unsure of how to react. In the case of Matt Bissonnetteâs Who Loves the Sun, the tone is expertly balanced between the more dramatic moments and some of the funnier lines.

The basic story is about Will Morrison (played by the talented Lukas Haas). Will is an engaging and somewhat mysterious character who arrives at the home of Arthur and Mary Bloom, the parents of his childhood best friend Daniel Bloom, after a five-year disappearance. Shortly after Willâs arrival, Mrs. Bloom summons Daniel from New York, where he has become a successful writer, to come back home and reconnect with his old friend. Upon Danielâs arrival, itâs clear he and Will have unresolved conflict and they quickly exchange insults and even begin physically fighting. In the height of all this, Maggie Morrison, Willâs wife and Danielâs teenage love, also arrives at the home. With all the players now together on the island estate, feelings are hurt, secrets are revealed and connections are reformed.

While the plot seems heavy and perhaps even melodramatic, it plays out in a surprisingly refreshing and natural way that will intrigue viewers. The conflict between Daniel and Will could have easily gone the way of a soap opera, yet the two talented actors (Haas and Adam Scott) bring such believability and humor to their roles that the scenes are never too emotionally heavy. They seem like they were really childhood friends. In fact, it might surprise audiences to learn that all this flawless chemistry was built up over just four days of rehearsal time during production.

Aside from the fantastic performances on the part of the cast, the scenery and cinematography alone will delight viewers. The locations all share a pristine natural beauty that adds to the remoteness and intimacy of the story. The colors of sunsets, of the woods, of the dock and the boats on the water, all create a gorgeous palate that dazzles the eye. Producer Corey Marr did a Q&A after the screening and discussed the different provincial locations as everyone in the audience was no doubt already planning a trip to Canada in their heads.

Interpersonal conflict and infidelity are common in films today, yet normally Hollywood deals with these subjects in highly dramatic and over-the-top terms. Simply, people in films never really act like people in real life. That is the primary thing that makes Who Loves the Sun so unique. This film deals with typical subjects in a refreshing and realistic way that can make audiences truly appreciate independent cinema.

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