From John Priddy-

Thirteen short days into the new year and I’ve already broken my first resolution: Don’t eat high-calorie meals late at night! The ban seemed doable when I made the initial pledge, but then there’s Los Betos … And my wife has this weakness for rolled tacos … So, there we were, the only gringos at our favorite eatery where even the wonderful aroma of the place is its own “late night calorie ” … You get the picture.

Rolled tacos (3), guac, chips and salsa. Oh, and a diet Pepsi, of course. Boy, was it good. And man, did I feel guilty!!!

The entire situation made me think about it … guilt, that is. What is it? Where does it come from? Is it always a bad thing? Nicholas Rowe said this: “Guilt is the source of sorrow, ’tis the fiend, th’ avenging fiend, that follows behind, with whips and stings.” Wow. That kinda hurts! Do indigestion and the knowledge that my cholesterol may not improve on my next exam count as “whips and stings”?

Tacos aside, I have actually been thinking about this concept a lot lately — chalk it up to reflections of a year gone by. And though I will admit to having some guilt and regret about a few things from last year, the question remains, how do I avoid making the same mistakes again? How do I live a life that’s guilt- and regret-free? Is that even possible? Would it be good?

I am a big fan of any filmmaker who can capture a topic like guilt in a way that makes me laugh, cry and wonder things like, “What were these guys smoking when they made this film!?”

Lowell Frank and Destin Cretton come immediately to mind. I first met them at the Directors’ Guild in Hollywood during the Angelus Student Film Festival, where they received the prestigious Audience Impact award for their film, Deacon’s Mondays. I don’t know what I enjoyed most — the film, its main character, or the throngs of supporters who showed up to laugh, clap and celebrate with their friends. Based on their wild exuberance, joy and obvious sense of humor, I’m thinking Deacon’s groupies must surely live guilt-free lives.

In this week’s Windrider featured film, Deacon’s Mondays, Cretton and Frank take viewers on an incredible exploration of the topic at hand: guilt. The film reveals a meticulous sense of detail in its production design, and surprises us with images that soar beyond the filmmakers’ limited budget. The audience follows Deacon, a man who lives in a fantastical world of snowing feathers, hailing golf balls … and incredible guilt. Through an unlikely friendship with an elderly woman, he comes face to face with his own humanity and learns he is not alone. Shot on Super 16mm, Deacon’s Mondays combines a literary quality in its voice-over narrative and a striking visual sensibility, along with an original score by singer/songwriter Greg Laswell.

Guilt is “… like a watchdog — useful to have around to alert you to danger,” said noted Christian theologian Francis Schaeffer. “But,” he added, “if the watchdog turns and attacks the homeowner, “it needs to be restrained and retrained.” In my view, this quote epitomizes Deacon and his journey.

Take the time to watch this short film; let it take you deeper than you’d expect. Then, help me answer my questions:
• How can a person live a life that’s guilt-free? Regret-free?
• Is such a life possible? Would such a life be good? Or bad?

Click here to watch.

P.S.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Drakmar: A Vassal’s Journey, a feature documentary by Cretton and Frank that aired on HBO Family. This portrait of an appealing teen obsessed by medieval re-enactments starts out as one thing and slyly and gracefully twists and turns into something much richer. Drakmar just came out on DVD with bonus features that include deleted scenes, a video update on Colin (the young vassal), an extended war documentary, and a Q&A with Colin after the first screening of the film at Point Loma Nazarene University.

CHECK OUT the filmmakers’ Web site, Flagpop.

-Jp

BREAKING NEWS: Cretton has a film playing at Sundance. Here’s the scoop, direct from him:
The new film’s called Short Term 12, and is based on experiences I had working at a the residential facility for at-risk teenagers where Lowell and I both worked before going to film school. It’s a story that asks some difficult questions about child abuse and parenting, and the system we have set up for troubled teenagers. You can watch the trailer at http://www.shortterm12.com

We’re really excited to play at Sundance this year, and will be heading to France the week after for the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival.

We’re playing in Shorts #4 at Sundance. Here are the screening times:
Fri. Jan 16 2:15 p.m. — Racquet Club, Park City
Sat. Jan 17 1:30 p.m. — Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, SLC
Sat. Jan 17 11:30 p.m. — Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Wed. Jan 21 8:30 p.m. — Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Sat. Jan 24 11:59 p.m. — Egyptian Theatre, Park City

See you at Sundance/Windrider 2009!

Destin Cretton