"Schism" is a touchingly tragic, poignant and moving tale that's likely to stay with you, and perhaps spark some debate, long after the credits roll. This is one film with a very loud voice, and it's begging to be seen.
Schism: Two-Disc Special Edition (2008, DVD)
Directors: John C. Lyons
Producers: John C. Lyons and Dorota Swies
Writers: John C. Lyons
Features: * Deleted Material * Q&A Highlights * Interviews * Outtakes
Characters:
TERRY T. SMITH (Neil)
DON KIRSCH (Roger)
RUTH THOMA ANDREWS (Martha)
DICK ROPP (Rufus)
JACQUELINE JOHNSON (Gertie)
CHARMALENE ULMER (Tammy)
Genre: Drama
Review:
Available now on DVD.
With almost every film released, a director (or writer) will infuse his/her thoughts, ideas and mentality into the picture. That small spirited touch grows into the heart, mind and spirit of the feature, giving the film a powerful soul for which it can voice its own opinion. Not all films have a strong voice ("Strange Wilderness," for example), but those that do are well heard. The only tragedy is that sometimes, the loudest of these films are independent features--injected with the passion of the director and writer, the turmoil of making the film and the love of the cast and crew. More often than not, unfortunately, these films are skipped by most mainstream viewers.
"Schism" is indie filmmaker John C. Lyon’s latest film, his first feature-length endeavor. It details the very personal story of a man who’s losing his own mind through the rough turmoil of Alzheimer’s disease. The story begins with Neil, a middle-aged man who’s been hospitalized after falling and breaking his hip. He begins to heal, but for some reason, the hospital, and his family, won’t let him go home. He befriends some of the other hospital patients and quickly learns that some sort of conspiracy may be under way. Of course, that’s only what Neil thinks. Like many dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, Neil’s mind is not functioning properly. He can’t remember as much as he used to and begins to see and hear things that just aren’t there. In many ways, it’s like the world is shrinking in on him and he can’t seem to keep up with it.
Alzheimer’s disease has been documented in quite a few features, the most recent film of which is "The Savages," but more often than not, the film is seen through the eyes of the children, grandchildren and other relatives involved. Lyons takes a vastly different direction, crafting a tale from the inside, through the eyes of Neil, who’s experiencing the world in a very different way. Neil’s family is only seen a few times in the picture, and it’s extremely brief. The rest of the time, Neil is attempting to piece together who he is and what is happening around, and to, him.
This helps create a true sense of loneliness. Even though there are friends at the hospital, Neil is alone. His family has abandoned him, not intentionally, and he feels isolated--alone with his thoughts, which are quickly dwindling away. With this idea, Lyons is able to construct a deeply saddening view of what it’s like to grow old--to go from a thoughtful, inspiring and intelligent adult, to an emotionally, mentally and physically weak elderly person. There is a sense of happiness and peace we must all reach with this thought, but the fight to stay the way we were is exhausting and tragic.
The film is intentionally slow moving, with a very dry first and second act. It was a little hard to get through, but necessary in order to construct the crux of the final act. Neil slowly begins to embark on an odyssey of his own mind. It’s a terrifying ride, with numerous scares and jolts that are likely to unsettle some viewers. The film is crafted, in many ways, like "Jacob’s Ladder" with horrifying imagery tightly packed within a simple, but increasingly complex story. Lyons uses the slow pace to build suspense, much in the same way David Cronenberg uses it in some of his own mind bending films like "Videodrome" or "The Brood."
The performances, for an indie, are rather solid. Terry Smith delivers a terrific performance as the increasingly unstable Neil. His eyes do a lot of the performing, giving the character a nice sense of sadness, melancholy and fear. Don Kirsch’s performance as Neil’s friend Roger is also great. Despite his age, he gives the film a youthful spark that, when taken away, drives the picture into a suspenseful realm.
Design for the film is minimal (and occasionally inconsistent), but Lyons does add a few neat visual and audio tricks to keep the suspense moving throughout the picture. The cinematography is easily the film’s strongest suit with great visuals at every corner. Like his previous film, "Hunting Camp," Lyons manages to craft a big budget look with only a few thousand dollars. Again, the tone and style is very similar to David Cronenberg, with stark, static shots coupled with keen lighting and striking setups. Editing is equally top notch, though the film is still a tad too slow in the beginning. But there are numerous truly cinematic, inspired cuts throughout. It’s rare to see such refined editing in a low-budgeted indie.
The story is well written and constructed, though some goofs are present. Neil breaks his hip and seemingly has had hip surgery, yet he’s confined to a wheelchair for the rest of the picture, which takes place over a few months time. Having experienced this type of surgery twice with my mother and once with my grandmother (who is experiencing a very similar descent to Neil), I know that a patient is usually walking around after only a few short days. Other than this very minor script error, and few smaller errors here and there, this is an incredibly solid feature.
"Schism," for many, will be a very personal journey. It’s a film designed for anyone who’s ever experienced losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease. Personally, I’ve experienced it twice, once with my grandfather several years ago and now with my grandmother, his wife. "Schism" is a touchingly tragic, poignant and moving tale that’s likely to stay with you, and perhaps spark some debate, long after the credits roll. This is one film with a very loud voice, and it’s begging to be seen.
Film Report Card:
Entertainment Value: B
Film Value: B+
Final Grade:
B+
DVD REVIEW:
Video:
Click on the image above to see a full-res DVD screengrab!
The film is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Quality here is about as good as it's standard definition source will allow. Colors, details and depth are fine during outdoor or well-lit sequences but indoor, darker sequences are clouded with heavy noise and even mild combing in a few spots.
Still, this is a proficient encode with very few issues. The problems that present themselves here are merely the result of the medium's limitations. Hopefully Lyons' next will be in high-def!
Audio:
Audio choices are English Stereo 2.0. English subtitles are also available. Don't expect an active mix, but rather a mix that again represents the limitations of the low-budget medium. Dialogue sounds a little off in spots, but mixing is mostly proficient and balanced. The film's score, from Andy Flatley, is perfectly blended into the film, adding much punch to the narrative.
Extras and Packaging:
The copy of the film, provided by Lyons Den Productions, came packed in a black amaray two-disc DVD case with striking artwork. Considering this is a self-produced release, extras (found on disc two) are surprisingly meaty and informative. They include:
• Deleted Scenes (18 minutes) -- A fine collection of extended/deleted scenes -- twelve total. Worth a look, but there's nothing too earth-shattering here, mostly character bits.
• Interviews (73 minutes) -- Two Q&A post-screening interview pieces (one at Edinboro and one at Mercyhurst College) are included that thoroughly dissect the film. Just about everyone involved chimes in with their thoughts on the production, from project's tragic genesis to the heart-warming final cut.
• Behind the Scenes (28 minutes) -- Two pieces are included here. First up, there's a fascinating "Fly on the Wall" feature which culls together loads of behind the scenes footage. Next up there are a few outtakes which play like deleted scenes for the "Fly on the Wall" featurette.
• Outtakes (7 minutes) -- The usual collection of cast goofs, gags and line flubs.
Final Thoughts:
"Schism" is a fine indie drama that deserves your attention, and this two-disc special edition pays the film much respect.
DVD Report Card:
Video: C+
Audio: C
Extras: A
Packaging: A
Recommendation: Well worth a look.
***
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----R. L. Shaffer