A Love Song
**Seen at the 2022 Atlanta Film Festival.
In the introduction to “A Love Song,” Christopher Escobar of the Atlanta Film Society (and Plaza Theatre) said that one of the things this movie represents is re-connection with other people, and in that way, it makes a lot of sense that they would program this film this year, as the Film Festival has fully in-person for the first time since the pandemic. What it means to reconnect with people is important to remember, because, while social media can give us more chances to stay connected than ever, nothing quite comes close to meeting face-to-face, without a computer screen between you.
Writer-director Max Walker-Silverman keeps our attention fully on Faye (Dale Dickey, in a lovely performance). Widowed for seven years, she is waiting on a childhood friend, someone she remembers fondly, at a camping site. We do not know how long she has been there when the film opens, but we get the sense that it’s been a few days by how she has gotten in a routine. We meet a couple of women camping not far away- one is supposed to propose to the other, but she hasn’t gotten up the nerve to do so- and a family who’s wanting to dig up their relative, whom they buried right where Faye’s trailer is at; they’re understanding when she says no, and there is some helping both parties can offer one another. Eventually, Lito (Wes Studi), arrives, and- however awkward the start of their interaction is- it seems to do each one some good.
The way music is used in this film intrigues me. Faye has a radio on her, and when she turns it on, it seems as though the music is fated to be playing at that moment, and it’s often a song about love or longing for love. When Lito arrives, the two share a moment of playing a song on guitars they have, and it’s simply a wonderful scene between the two, arguably the most connected the two are in this encounter. Studi is terrific as someone who is not quite sure how to interact in this moment; he’s widowed, as well, but it feels like Lito is less certain about what he wants to happen here. That tension is interesting, and leads us into a third act where Faye has some realizations in quiet, namely that, whatever you interactions you have in this life, make the most of them. I can’t think of a better message for a film like this, or in general.
