By Alex Puga
The parting glass is a poignant time capsule depicting the raw nature of family after a tragedy. Stephen Moyer, in his directorial debut, delivers a subdued film with an attention to detail that elevates its beauty. Written by Denis O’Hare, the story is based on true events from his life. He also stars as Danny, a stage actor and designated black sheep of the family.
The Parting Glass finds a family mourning the sudden loss of Colleen (Anna Paquin), the youngest sibling of five. In a film about death, it is very easy to make it a sob story, yet O’Hare pens a script that has its share of laughs and banter. Even in the films most tense and heartbreaking scenes, the audience will find themselves smiling due to a heartwarming memory
of Colleen or a punchline from the phenomenal Ed Asner, who plays Tommy, the patriarch.
The film does an incredible job of balancing this as well as the present and memories of the past. In the main plot the family is traveling to collect Colleen’s belongings and along the way, their memories push the story forward. The flashback sequences are either
images or full-length scenes focusing on the family rather than Colleen. A wonderful artistic choice, putting not just the story but also the camera’s focus on literally every family member except Colleen, who is usually blurred out or cropped.
The film palette is filled with faded blues and greys, fitting the tone and emotions of the family. Contrasted by their memories, which are filled with warmer tones. As the film progresses and the sun rises, we find the colors slowly matching those warm tones, as well as a team who learns to cope. The colors in the film, as well as the stunning cinematography, evoke just as much emotion as the script itself.
The film does a remarkable job depicting a true family, flawed and constantly bickering, each trying to claim Colleen’s memories and tell their side of her stories. With a phenomenal ensemble cast containing Cynthia Nixon (Mare), Melissa Leo (Al), and Rhys Ifans (Karl), playing Colleen’s older sisters and ex-husband respectively. They often fuel the constant arguments and teasing that goes on throughout the course of the film. They also give breathe to the character of Colleen, each adding a side to her dynamic. Each of them copes in their own way, ranging from humorous sequences like Mare wanting to keep Colleen’s last bag of chips to heart-wrenching, like when Tommy goes through her clothes and buries his face in her scarf to get her scent one more time.
The final scene is particularly powerful. Danny, who now has Colleen’s phone finds a video in which she is helping him run lines for an audition. When Danny grows frustrated and leaves, Colleen is left with the camera on and turns it onto herself. We finally see Colleen clearly for who she is, and she is given the final words in a film where everybody else is speaking for her.
