My favorite films share a certain quality -- a sense of quirky community, with stories driven by the needs of the characters. "My LIfe as a Dog" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" by Lasse Halstrom come to mind, as does Bill Forsythe's beautiful "Local Hero." Savoca takes this type of character-driven story into the realm of magical realism, through the use of beautiful cinematography and just the right amount of whimsical animated sequences, occurring at just the right moments.As in all of his films, the characters in "Around June" are living on the margins of society. Each one, brilliantly acted, has his or her own need -- to love and be loved, to be understood, to live life fully.If you are looking for guns and explosions, this is NOT the film for you. However, if you are interested in a beautifully shot and moving insight into the human heart, "Around June" will leave you feeling refreshed, with your eyes open to the possibility of magic that is around, and within, us all.

The photography in this picture is dynamite if you will excuse me getting kind of 70s on the terminology. This is a rough part of town that just glows. The thought process behind the film seems to want to accentuate the parts of our worlds that seem coarse to the naked eye but on closer inspection have a certain light. If you go into it with that mindset I think you will discover new ways of seeing. I was also impressed with the way the actors committed to characters that are very fairy tale in nature. The realist in me balked but it forced me to take a more romantic view of the world which is necessary at times. Gives a new meaning to the phrase "rose colored glasses."

I thoroughly enjoyed screening this tender film last night and thought a couple words of praise were in order. Director, James Savoca and crew did a bang up job capturing the pathos and angst of June's dysfunctional family. Great performances from ensemble cast, starring Samaire Armstrong, Brad William Henke, Oscar Guerrero. Special hats off to Jon Gries for digging deeper and creating an amazing emotionally scarred, war torn "Murry". Considering this is the second release from Fog City Films in two years, and the film was a co-venture between seasoned professionals and students working side by side.....the resulting work is quite admirable. I believe this is the first of it's kind in the USA where students and seasoned pros work side by side in all phases of the project! Shot in digital with a film look and lovely animation sprinkled through the imaginative titles and production. Congratulations, job well done!

Around June shows the lesser Photographed but actually more arrestingly beautiful East Central face of the City of SF's Portrero Hill Area Amazing animation sequences interspersed throughout the film. The Wonderful Samaire Armstrong turns in a Bravura while Nuanced and Subtle Performance....The four strong leads keep a taut dynamic humming Till the end.... The City and Samaire both have a Radiant Presence in this Film and the eccentricities of the finely drawn Characters evoke Empathy... My favorite sort of film characters... Characters sidelined from the mainstream by choice and/or circumstance.... That cry out an existential exclamation I Am!! In a howl of pain or triumph!