Ms. White Light

Last updated
Ms. White Light
Directed byPaul Shoulberg
Written byPaul Shoulberg
Produced by
  • John Robert Armstrong
  • Zachary Spicer
  • Gordon Strain
Starring
CinematographyJim Timperman
Edited byKevin Weaver
Music byZachary Walter
Production
companies
  • Pigasus Pictures
  • Blueline Media Productions
Distributed by Freestyle Releasing
Release date
  • March 11, 2019 (2019-03-11)(SXSW)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Ms. White Light is a 2019 American dark comedy drama film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg. The film stars Roberta Colindrez and Judith Light. Filmed in Bloomington, Indiana, it premiered on March 11 at the 2019 South by Southwest film festival. [1] [2] [3] It was released by Freestyle Releasing on October 6, 2020. [4]

Contents

Premise

Lex Cordova (Roberta Colindrez) is a young consultant for terminally ill clients, mets Val (Judith Light), a cancer patient who doesn't care that she is dying.

Cast

Roberta Colindrez at the Montclair Film festival Ms. White Light (33959071688) (cropped).jpg
Roberta Colindrez at the Montclair Film festival

Reception

The film has a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 7 reviews. [5]

Film critic John DeFore wrote in his The Hollywood Reporter review: "A near-miss that should find some appreciative viewers, it feels like a stage play in need of a little polishing, whose talented cast likes it enough to commit fully." [6] Adam Vaughn from Film Festival Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars writing: "While the performances (and the push of performances via mostly long takes) contain the bulk of value in the film, Ms. White Light still misses the one piece of thematic content that could differentiate it from countless other tales of life right before death." [7] Meanwhile Aaron Peterson from The Hollywood Outsider gave it a positive review praising the performances and wrote in his review: " Director Paul Shoulberg’s film is a haunting tale detailing the constant struggle with our own mortality, and our reluctance to accept our eventual fate. Carried by the daring lead performance from Roberta Colindrez, Ms. White Light is an early favorite as one of the best films of 2019." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Light</span> American actress (born 1949)

Judith Ellen Light is an American actress. She made her professional stage debut in 1970, before making her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of A Doll's House. Her breakthrough role was in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983, where she played the role of Karen Wolek; for this role, she won two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1980 and 1981. In 2024, Light won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Poker Face.

<i>By Hook or by Crook</i> (2001 film) 2001 film by Harry Dodge

By Hook or by Crook is a 2001 buddy drama film written, directed by, and starring Harry Dodge and Silas Howard. The story follows two unlikely friends as they commit petty crimes and figure out their places in the world.

<i>Rewind This!</i> 2013 American film

Rewind This! is a 2013 documentary film directed by Josh Johnson about the impact of VHS on the film industry and home video, as well as about collectors of videotapes.

<i>Holy Ghost People</i> (2013 film) 2013 American film

Holy Ghost People is a 2013 American psychological thriller directed by Mitchell Altieri and written by Kevin Artigue, Joe Egender, Altieri, and Phil Flores. It stars Emma Greenwell as a woman who goes in search of her missing sister, who has joined an isolated religious group.

<i>Hellion</i> (film) 2014 film by Kat Candler

Hellion is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Kat Candler. The film stars Aaron Paul as an emotionally absent father of two sons. It also stars Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Jonny Mars, and Annalee Jefferies.

<i>The Internets Own Boy</i> 2014 American film

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz is a 2014 American biographical documentary film about Aaron Swartz written, directed, and produced by Brian Knappenberger. The film premiered in the US Documentary Competition program category at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014.

<i>6 Years</i> 2015 American film

6 Years is a 2015 American romantic drama film written and directed by Hannah Fidell and starring Taissa Farmiga, Ben Rosenfield, Lindsay Burdge, Joshua Leonard, Peter Vack, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson. Filmmakers Mark and Jay Duplass served as executive producers under their Duplass Brothers Productions banner. The film depicts two weeks in the relationship of college students Melanie Clark and Dan Mercer, as their 6-year romance turns violent.

<i>Results</i> (film) 2015 American film

Results is a 2015 indie romantic comedy film written and directed by Andrew Bujalski. The film stars Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Brooklyn Decker, Anthony Michael Hall, and Constance Zimmer.

<i>The Overnight</i> 2015 film by Patrick Brice

The Overnight is a 2015 American sex comedy film written and directed by Patrick Brice, and starring Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche. The film was produced by Naomi Scott and executive produced by Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, and Adam Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberta Colindrez</span> Mexican-American actor and writer

Roberta Colindrez is a Mexican-American actor and writer. She is best known for originating the role of Joan in the musical Fun Home. Additionally, Colindrez is known for roles in the TV shows I Love Dick,Vida, and Amazon Prime's A League of Their Own, as well as the films Cassandro and Ms. White Light. Her main contributions to the film industry include portraying queer Latine characters and adapting them as her own to avoid stereotypes.

<i>Transpecos</i> (film) 2016 American film

Transpecos is a 2016 American thriller film directed by Greg Kwedar, and written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley. The film stars Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna, and Clifton Collins Jr. as border patrol agents who encounter a Mexican drug cartel. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 13, 2016. The film was released on September 9, 2016, in a limited release and through video on demand by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

<i>Porto</i> (film) 2016 French film

Porto is a 2016 American drama film directed by Gabe Klinger and written by Larry Gross and Gabe Klinger. The film stars Anton Yelchin, Lucie Lucas, Paulo Calatré, João Monteiro Oliveira and Françoise Lebrun. Executive producer was Jim Jarmusch. The film was released on November 17, 2017, by Kino Lorber.

<i>The Peanut Butter Falcon</i> 2019 comedy-drama film directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz

The Peanut Butter Falcon is a 2019 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, in their directorial film debut, and starring Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and John Hawkes. The plot follows a young man with Down syndrome who escapes from an assisted living facility and befriends a wayward fisherman on the run. As the two men form a rapid bond, a social worker attempts to track them. Filming took place in North Carolina and Georgia.

<i>The Parts You Lose</i> 2019 film directed by Chris Cantwell

The Parts You Lose is a 2019 American thriller film starring Aaron Paul and Danny Murphy as a fugitive criminal and a deaf boy who befriend one another. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Scoot McNairy also star as the boy's parents. The film is directed by Christopher Cantwell based on a screenplay by Darren Lemke. The H Collective financed Gran Via's production of the film. Filming took place in Winnipeg, Canada. The Parts You Lose had its world premiere on March 14, 2019 at the 2019 Sun Valley Film Festival in Sun Valley, Idaho. Samuel Goldwyn Films released the film commercially in the United States on October 4, 2019.

<i>Vida</i> (TV series) 2018 American drama television series

Vida is an American drama television series created by Tanya Saracho and inspired by the short story "Pour Vida" by Richard Villegas Jr. The series stars Melissa Barrera, Mishel Prada, Ser Anzoategui, Chelsea Rendon, Carlos Miranda, Maria-Elena Laas, and Roberta Colindrez. Vida tells the story of two Mexican American sisters who move back to their childhood home in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles after the death of their mother.

<i>Son of the South</i> (film) 2020 American biographical historical drama film

Son of the South is a 2020 American biographical historical drama film, written and directed by Barry Alexander Brown. Based on Bob Zellner's autobiography, The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement, Lucas Till portrays Zellner, with Lex Scott Davis, Lucy Hale, Jake Abel, Shamier Anderson, Julia Ormond, Cedric the Entertainer and Brian Dennehy appearing in supporting roles. Spike Lee serves as an executive producer.

<i>Red 11</i> 2019 film by Robert Rodriguez

Red 11 is a 2019 American science fiction horror film produced, and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez co-wrote the film with his son Racer Max, after previously collaborating on The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D in 2005. The film is inspired by Robert Rodriguez's experiences described in his 1995 book Rebel Without a Crew. The film stars Roby Attal, Lauren Hatfield, Alejandro Rose-Garcia, Eman Esfandi, Steve Brudniak, Brently Heilbron, Pierce Foster Bailey, Katherine Willis, Ulysses Montoya, and Carlos Gallardo.

Karen Maine is an American film director and screenwriter known for Obvious Child and Yes, God, Yes.

<i>Cassandro</i> (film) 2023 film by Roger Ross Williams

Cassandro is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Roger Ross Williams from a screenplay co-wrote by Williams and David Teague. It stars Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo, El Hijo del Santo and Bad Bunny. It had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and was released by Amazon MGM Studios in a limited release on September 15, 2023, prior to streaming via Prime Video on September 22, 2023.

Unidentified Objects is a 2023 black comedy science-fiction road movie directed by Juan Felipe Zuleta in his feature film debut and starring Matthew August Jeffers, Sarah Hay, and Roberta Colindrez.

References

  1. McNary, Dave (October 23, 2017). "Judith Light, Roberta Colindrez to Star in Drama 'Ms. White Light' (EXCLUSIVE)".
  2. Tilley, Jenny Porter. "After SXSW premiere of 'Ms. White Light,' local filmmakers focus on next steps". The Herald-Times.
  3. Aziz, Neha (March 4, 2019). "Paul Shoulberg Candidly Discusses Why He Made Ms. White Light - SXSW Filmmaker In Focus". SXSW.
  4. McNary, Dave (September 15, 2020). "Film News in Brief: Janina Gavankar to Star in Monster Movie and Sci-Fi Film 'Invasion'".
  5. "Ms. White Light | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  6. DeFore, John (October 7, 2020). "'Ms. White Light': Film Review".
  7. "Film Review: A Heartfelt and Intimate Dramedy, "Ms. White Light" Chooses a Safe Route for Powerful Thematic Content | Film Festival Today".
  8. Peterson, Aaron B. (March 20, 2019). "Ms. White Light | SXSW 2019 Film Review".