Savannah shown at the 2013 Charleston SC Film Festival March 8th
The completed film was shown at the Charleston Film Festival in Charleston SC. It was originally to be shown on one screen but had enough inquires about tickets they were able to sell enough for 3 screenings.
The director, Annette Hawyood-Carter, was on hand to provide a short introduction.
The cinematography of this movie was gorgeous. Staying true to the true story of Ward Allen, it was filmed in Savannah, Ga and the surrounding area of marshes and creeks and rivers. The beauty of the area was showcased as an integral part of the movie because it was Ward Allen's love of his land that drove this story.
Jim Caviezel was an excellent choice for the lead role of Ward Allen. He brought dignity and love of life to the role. Mercurial would be an apt description of Ward Allen. An educated blue-blood who gave it all up to live off the land and FOR the land that he loved. Many times he was brought up before the judge, played by Hal Holbrook, for breaking the laws that were slowly strangling Ward's way of life. Each time, by sheer force of his personality and wit, Allen was able to talk his way out of serious trouble. Caviezel embraced this role with zest. He was able to show the different sides of Ward Allen with ease.
Caviezel's unique ability to go from light-hearted ne'er do well, to serious huntsman, to town's beloved drunk, to a man besotted with his young wife to a shell of his former self when he lost his wife, was put on display. He made you care for this man from the beginning. You wanted to meet this man, be a friend of this man, you wanted to comfort this man.
Quite a few scenes with Allen and his best friend Christmas Moultrie, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, were truly heart rendering and real. True friendship between men is a profound thing and in this movie it was almost spiritual in their understanding of each other. Christmas was the only one to comfort Allen when he lost his wife.
Ward was swept off his feet by the woman who would become his wife, Lucy Stubs, played by Jaimie Alexander. He loved her dearly but he was not a very good husband. He continued to live his life just like he had done before they got married. His drinking and staying out all night were legendary before and after they married. But she meant the world to him and he was devistated by her death.
The movie is told in flashbacks by Jack Cay, played by Bradley Whitford and an elderly white-headed Christmas Moultrie.
The best news that the director shared was that the movie will have a limited release in the south, southeast and southwest in August 2013 with the DVD being released in October 2013.
If you have the chance, you need to see this movie in the theatre to appreciate the beauty the wetlands that Ward Allen loved and to see Jim Caviezel on the big screen, you will no be disappointed.
The trailer for the movie:
http://www.fabricationfilms.com/screeners/savannah.html?type=trailer