When Mel Rygus and I split up the movies in the American Indie series, I basically gave her first choice. I didn't really read up on any of the movies that were left for me, so "Handsome Harry" ended up being a really nice surprise.
"Handsome Harry" himself (played by Jamey Sheridan) is an electrician and former sailor. A former Navy buddy, Tom Kelly (Steve Buscemi), is dying, and calls Harry to help seek forgiveness for an event that occurred 30 years earlier. The movie follows Harry's journey as he reconnects with the other sailors involved in the event, and ultimately the victim himself (Campbell Scott).
The movie touches on themes of forgiveness, masculinity, and how dealing (or not dealing) with events in our past can affect who we become years later. The themes, and the jazzy soundtrack, make "Handsome Harry" feel like a movie Clint Eastwood could have made - and I mean that as a compliment. It's a worthy addition to the terrific American Indie series at this year's festival.
There are still some titles in the American Indie series to screen over the festival's final weekend - check them out!
