by Larry Richman
October 18, 2007 1:47 PM

As readers of this blog know, we've been covering the progress of Still Green for close to two years. The film wrapped in early fall 2005 and has been winding its way through the wild and wacky world of independent film distribution ever since.

Some time ago, we posted links to the OFFICIAL SITE & TRAILER. It's mighty impressive and the sound mix is killer. Then, just recently, we reported that Still Green is finally about to see the light of day, or at least the dark of the theater. The film's East Coast Premiere will take place at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

We will be making the trip to Florida, of course, but I was lucky to catch a screening of the film at the New Hampshire Film Festival this past weekend. We'll be posting a more extensive review shortly, but I wanted to pass on a few thoughts as the film is still fresh in my mind -- Still Green, as it were.

As a rule, I try to limit what I know about a film prior to seeing it -- a difficult task when you're posting news about it for a couple of years, but that's the reporter in me. Then there is the side of me that is a passionate lover of indies. I make no secret of that fact, and an example I often use is Mean Creek. It is one of my all-time favorite indies, if not right at the top of the list. It premiered at Sundance in 2004 and has recently had new life on cable. The young ensemble cast includes Trevor Morgan, Rory Culkin, and Ryan Kelley. We've seen and reviewed a handful of films from both Morgan and Culkin recently but Kelley has been noticeably absent. Enter Still Green, which has been quietly coming into shape for the past several years. You guessed it, Kelley is one of the stars in a talented group which also includes Sarah Jones, Douglas Spain, and Noah Segan.

The comparison to Mean Creek would be inevitable even if only for the fact that here is another film where Ryan Kelley is one of the stars of an indie with a young ensemble cast. But the parallels don't stop there. I generally abhor references to other films in reviews. It often seems somewhat pretentious, as if the writer is trying to show off his knowledge of films, intimidating and belittling those who may not have seen the movies being referenced. So let it be said, right from the start, that I recommend seeing Mean Creek -- if not prior to seeing Still Green then certainly afterward.

Still Green had me from the opening shot -- a glimpse of sea lapping against the grainy shores of the Gulf Coast of Florida. You can't go wrong there, from a cinematographer's point of view. Water always looks great on film, especially when accompanied by breathtaking sunsets (are there any other kind?). Both are in abundance here. An awesome soundtrack is made up of musicians who contributed tapes to the filmmakers in a battle of the bands of sorts for the privilege of being in the film. Every song is a gem.

What we know within minutes is that a tragedy has befallen a group of high school friends spending one last week of summer before going off to colleges far and wide possibly never to see each other again. The first act of the film is actually Act 2 in this drama, after which we flash back to Act 1. It's a device which, in the wrong hands, can appear choppy and unfocused. But here, in the hands of director and editor Jon Artigo, it's powerful and poignant. The audience isn't forced to sit through an hour of character setup to get to the heart of the story. This allows the viewer to focus on what Still Green is really about -- not the event itself but the way these young people interact with each other and how they, individually and collectively, deal with the tragedy.

Violating my own rule here, more comparisons -- think Mean Creek meets The Big Chill with a dash of The Outsiders. The latter, at least, is literally referenced in the film itself.

What makes a great indie? Better yet, what is a powerful film? By my own definition, one which leaves the audience to fill in the blanks. Plus great shots, a moving soundtrack, and what I call "an indie sensibility" -- natural lighting, long takes, a bit of an improv feel -- you know it when you see it. Include a talented young cast, a story with a dark side, and throw in some mystery. Still Green is not a Hollywood movie. All the loose ends are not tied up. It makes you think. Yes, I'm a sucker for indies. No, not all are good and just because a film cost pennies to shoot doesn't make it award-worthy. But I think Still Green is.