Attic Trunk movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Attic Trunk

This dramatic movie is now available to stream online.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 20 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

Directed by Raugi Yu, Attic Trunk follows 40-year-old Jason, who on the day of his sister Sadie’s funeral, is asked by his parents to go back to his childhood home to clean up the remnants of her makeshift hospital room and the place she took her last breath. As Jason prepares to clean up the house, a woman from his past, Analise, arrives to pay her respects to the family. As they rekindle their relationship, Jason and Analise are instantly transported back in time to when their bond was strong and unbreakable. At a crossroads, Jason and Analise must decide whether or not there is a relationship to salvage as they feel the spirits of their past reaching out through the house attached to so many memories.

The writer of this touching film was HlfAs.

THINGS I LIKED:

Personally, this was a really hard movie for me to watch because I had to say goodbye and bury 3 of my parents in the last 3 months. One thing I’ve learned is that everyone mourns differently. The movie definitely illustrates that. As I’ve been cleaning out my parents’ homes, it’s definitely made me reflect on my own home and life. What will others think of the “stuff” I gathered during my sojourn on earth? How will they judge me for what I did with my life? Who will actually mourn my own passing? What legacy will I pass on to my children and grandchildren? Those are sobering questions that should make us all pause, and reevaluate how we spend each day of our lives.
The cast includes Andrew McNee, Josette Jorge, Gabrielle Rose, Jay Brazeau, and Colleen Wheeler. I thought Andrew McNee was a true standout and gave an excellent performance. He’s a naturally-gifted actor who really shines in this role. I’d love to see him in more work. You might recognize him from his work in Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), Scary Movie (2006), and Firewall (2006).
Like many films that were halted due to the pandemic, this movie was supposed to be released in 2021. While waiting for theaters to open, the film was busy winning awards at several film festivals! It now has its release in March 2023.
Filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I finally got to visit that lovely city just a few months ago! I highly recommend Victoria, British Columbia next door.
Wow, so many items in the house reminded me of my childhood that I had forgotten about. I remember thinking those green and white striped couches were cool looking. ha ha
The banter between the two characters is often humorous and insightful.
It’s really hard to pull off a movie with one location, but this film worked. Even harder is to hold an audience’s attention with only two actors in the majority of the scenes. The film worked on that front too.
The camera work was simple and effective.
The pain the characters showed was heartbreaking and so real.
The gentle music never overpowered, nor drove the emotions in the film. Instead, it supported what feelings the silence often created.
Yep, I wept. The ending was powerful. On the screen, we see these words: “This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. But grief is real. So is love.”

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Oddly, there wasn’t a scene about an attic, despite the title. There wasn’t just one specific trunk either, but an entire house filled with objects that allowed the memories to flood in.
I wish there hadn’t been so many F-bombs, but I recognize that people swear, especially when they’re hurting and when words don’t come anywhere close to describing their complicated feelings.
Some people might complain that “nothing happens.” A lot does happen but it’s all internal.
I wish we could have seen what was on all of the sticky notes that one of the characters drew. I thought that scene offered a sweet, tender, and funny touch. If you keep watching during the final credits, you’ll get to see one of them, as well as some pictures another character drew as a kid.