By Mr. Will Wong
Written and directed by Tim Lewiston, there’s something cathartic about THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE, especially for those who have had their hearts broken.
We meet Hope (Hannah Chinn) who travels to Portugal with her father, a very successful Writer Jonathan (Colm Meaney) who is penning his most important work to date. We are met with the mystery why her mother Samantha (Kate Ashfield), who also is his Agent, has left him. Above this, she leaves him for her uncle Luke (John Light). Her father isn’t quite willing to open-up about the situation, but eventually does and while we’re often quick to blame him for the wrongdoing, we actually begin to sympathize with him, as does Hope, the more the story progresses. In all his focus on his work, he has neglected his wife who has found affection elsewhere. The story unfolds over 90 minutes and we wonder whether this family will see reconciliation or if all love has been lost between father and mother.
After some 40 years in the Film industry including work behind-the-scenes in Sound and as an Assistant Director, this is Lewiston‘s second Feature and you can really see his eye for detail, beautifully capturing scenic Portugal in Ali Asad’s beautiful Cinematography. This isn’t a story with startling twists or turns, but it is really about learning the history between the characters and watching things unfold.
Chinn as the Film’s titular character, is the heart and soul of it all, and our eyes into this family’s privileged world. Meaney delivers an understated performance which has us pulling for him, made even easier with Light‘s tempermental Luke. Moral of the story is to make time and space for those we truly love, and to seek-to-understand – a message that all could benefit from.
Cineplex Pictures release THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE March 3, 2023.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com