Manhattan Film Festival: Ashley's Ashes

(Past) Fri, Jul 23 at 3 pm Leonard Nimoy Thalia $10; Students, Seniors $8; Members $6; Day of Show $12

Independent Features was founded by two independent filmmakers who learned first hand how hard it is to find an independent film an audience. The company pioneered the Manhattan Film Festival which allows filmmakers to choose their preferred selection process: participation in their signature web-based competition or review by the festivals programming team.

Ashley's Ashes (Comedy) (USA) 105m

When Bob Tuttle (Googy Gress) initially receives a letter from the L.A. County clerk's (Willie Garson) office telling him that he has inherited some property, he is nothing but confused. "I don't know anyone who's died." And indeed he doesn't. Still that doesn't stop him from setting off on a journey of discovery. One that leads him away from his already unsatisfying suburban life with a girlfriend, Sandy, (Gigi Rice) who along with her boy-toy, Apollo (Thomas Kijas) does nothing but use him for her own good to the heart of an urban world that he never really knew existed.

Along the way he meets several people who open his eyes to a world that actually seems to offer its inhabitants a chance for happiness. First up is Kern, (Scott Foster) a pickpocket with issues. Next is Bloom, (Daniel Baldwin) the downtown world's linchpin, who sends him off to meet the artist Visky, (Lee Arenberg) who hints that all Bob need do is get Lucky (Shahe Koulloukian). Lucky feels Bob needs to speak to a man of faith and propels him on to Father Tim (Christian Clemenson), who believes that a broke down horse trainer named Dan, (Orson Bean) might really have the skinny. As each of these people brings out in Bob a side of himself long lost or forgotten, his old friends, Bill (Craig Sheffer), and Mick and Mary (Jeff Weiss and Anna Karin) fight to keep him just where he is. Further complicating Bob's life are his landlord, Mr. Ricks (Clint Howard), his wife (Clarinda Ross) and other work associates - Gorky, his mailman (Jonathan Oldham), Francine (Eileen Galindo), and Eddie (Tom Hensley). Bob's arc ends with his discovering a past he never knew, hinting at a future he never dreamed of.