The Last Fishing Trip (Short)
Losing a loved one is always a painful experience. For Diana (Diane Bakos), it’s especially so when her brother, Edward (Mike Connelly), dies of cancer. The two were very close, going on fishing trips together, and the memory of that is very overwhelming for Diana. To get away, she takes a trip to New York, where she meets a young man (Patrick, played by Lester Greene) who gives her an unexpected positive experience just when she’s starting to feel uncomfortable in the Big Apple.
Christopher Fox has made a wonderful film about grief and finding life again after loss. This isn’t a somber affair but rather one where pain manifests itself into the opportunity to enjoy life for Diana, who is taking a risk in the face of loss to try and live and move on. Patrick is an ideal guide for her; it’s a chance encounter which allows her to try new things, have new experiences, and feel a connection that reminds her of the one she had with Edward. Not every stranger would be as accommodating as Patrick, to be sure, but it just takes one person to reach out and let you know that they see you. That’s what Diana needs, and after a rough start to her day in New York, Patrick is an unlikely savior.
Movies about the struggle we, as people, have when faced with death are some of the most compelling for me, because some of the most formative moments I’ve had in my life are after the death of a loved one. Those experiences are burned into my memory and helped form the person I am today, the way I look at movies, the way I write music, and those were journeys that changed me significantly. Diana is going on that journey in this film, and the way she finds her way through the pain is wonderful and emotional to watch. Fox understands the way these emotions effect us deeply, and how finding a respite from them can feel like salvation.
The Last Fishing Trip – Trailer 2019 from Stupidears on Vimeo.
