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Spitting WaterDirected by Joshua Neth, 2008
Spitting
Water, an Eric Leadbetter film presented by Choch-Key Productions,
premiered recently at Home and Planet in South Side Bethlehem. This
independent film was directed by Joshua Neth and filmed in the Lehigh
Valley area with forty-three local actors. Spitting Water is the story of a woman who is caretaker for
her 35-year-old brain-damaged brother. The car crash that kills their
parents, orphans the children, and leaves Danny (played as an adult
by Troy Brokenshire) brain-damaged opens the film off-screen, and is
depicted throughout the film by Danny's drawings. Now an adult, Trudy (Sarah Milici) works at home as a specialty baker
so that she can take care of her brother. Although her entire adult
life has been spent caring for her brother, she has a good support system
in Joshua Neth and Cheryl Moritz, who give strong performances as loving
friends Ben and Margot. These characters are necessary, as the film
deals with the death of Trudy's relationship with the cheating Ryan,
her search for love in spite of her responsibilities, and the birth
of a new life with Doug, a local florist. The title refers to Danny's habit of spitting water, usually taken
from the plastic bottle he habitually carries with him. Danny's link
to water — in the bath, with his swimming therapy, and the ever-present
plastic water bottle — provides a strong theme that ties some characters
together, pushes others apart, leads to tragedy, and ultimately to self-forgiveness
for Trudy after Danny's tragic death. Troy Brokenshire's performance as the brain-damaged Danny is spot on,
and absolutely necessary for the viewer to understand the love, frustration
and protectiveness of his sister. Sarah Milici tries hard in an overwritten
part that doesn't succeed as well as the enjoyable minor characters,
most of whom were obviously written with love. Trudy just has too many
expository lines of dialogue. The role of the married swimming therapy
teacher who becomes gradually involved with Danny (Danny spying on the
teacher after a shower, a careful kiss by the teacher and a grope by
the inexperienced Danny in the pool after a successful lesson) was predictable.
The film needed to provided a clear indication of the change in the
teacher's feelings toward Danny, which sets off the final action of
the film. This is not a polished film, and some parts don't quite do what the director obviously intends, but it's enjoyable, nonetheless, as a snapshot of friendship in good times and bad. Rating (out of 4): ** 1/2 Rated R (there is male frontal nudity in the death scene), 90 minutes |
