Ghostlight
When a construction worker unexpectedly joins an amateur theatre company, he begins to confront his emotions. A moving drama about grief, family struggles, and the transformative power of theatre.
Dan, a construction worker from Chicago, is grappling with the loss of his son and the growing distance between himself, his wife Sharon and their headstrong teenage daughter, Daisy. Adding to the strain is a pending lawsuit against his late son’s ex-girlfriend. Overwhelmed, Dan sometimes lashes out in uncontrollable fits of anger. Then, by chance, he finds himself involved in a local stage production. The tough, no-nonsense builder suddenly lands in a world of theatrical personalities, where people talk about ‘safe spaces’ and the need for an ‘intimacy coordinator’ – concepts that, to Dan, might as well be from another planet. Under the direction of a bitchy ex-Broadway actress, Dan gradually learns to process his grief and reconnect with those around him.
Ghostlight premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and stands out for its unique casting: the roles of Dan, Sharon and their daughter Daisy are played by Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer and Tara Mallen – real-life family members and professional actors who also run their own theatre company.