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(2008 - USA)

The story is about 12-year-old Belle (Vivien Cardone), who loses her mother in an automobile accident. Her father Cody (Jason London) struggles with the loss of his wife and trying to raise a young girl who believes her father is partly responsible for her mother's death. Hock, (Peter Coyote) Belle's grandfather, has trouble communicating with Belle since the accident because she reminds him too much of his daughter. Her rebellious behavior forces Cody to send Belle to her grandfather's farm. It is Atticus the dog who will change Belle's life and the life of those who love her.

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Cast

• Vivien Cardone........................Belle Lawlor
• Peter Coyote..........................Hock Banyon
• Jason London......................................Cody
• Peter Boyle.......................................Poovey

Credits

• Directed by.............................Dennis Fallon
• Written by........................Douglas Delaney
• Music by............................... Korey Ireland
• Cinematography by...............Fred Paddock
• Runtime......................................119 minutes
• Premiered............................January 27, 2008 at the Santa Barbara Int'l Film Festival

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Film Festivals:

Santa Barbara International Film Festival - January 27, 2008

Production Notes:

Kansas City was chosen as the shooting location because everyone at Waldo West Productions lives in the area along with the director and screenwriter. Director Dennis Fallon says his film is about a broken family and all the things they have to put together because of the death and the things they have to mend. Despite shooting on a luxurious horse farm and having a great cast, Fallon is proud of keeping his budget under three million. "When you see this film, you are going to be like, how in the world did you get all this for fewer than three million? It’s going to look great."

Doug Delaney, who penned the script, adds, "The real story is about wounded people and animals. It's very surprising how very indirectly they can heal each other." Delaney said Kansas City Executive Producer Charles W. Nelson helped tremendously in making his screen play a big production. He continues, "This movie's only being made because of Nelson's love for animals. This is a film the kids will like, and the adults will love."

Dove Foundation Review:
This film could be labeled as a sad film if it wasn't for the illumination that young actress Vivien Cardone brings to her role of Belle. Belle lost her mother in an automobile accident and it has affected everyone in her life, including her father and grandfather. Yet Belle's lively spirit and ability to adapt begins to slowly cause the others to reflect on their lives. She is a bit rebellious but she matures as the film moves along. She eventually helps her grandfather, who rejected her because she reminds him of his dead daughter, to make some kind of peace with the past. This is a dramtic piece but still, it manages some humor. A parrot in the story always says "Hello" when someone says good-bye to it, and "Good-bye" when someone says "Hello." The film does have some mild language and mature themes and so we recommend it for ages twelve and above.

The film was previously titled "Shadows of Atticus".

 

Images

[ The Official Peter Coyote Web Site ]