Particle.news

Download on the App Store

'Ghostlight' Explores Healing Through Art in the Wake of Family Tragedy

Real-life family delivers powerful performances in a film that uses a community theater production of 'Romeo and Juliet' as a therapeutic tool for grief.

  • Ghostlight, a new film by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, tells the story of a family dealing with the suicide of their eldest son by participating in a community theater production of 'Romeo and Juliet'.
  • The film features real-life family members Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen, and Katherine Mallen Kupferer as the Mueller family, who are all dealing with their grief in different ways.
  • The father, Dan Mueller, a construction worker, is invited to join the theater production after an incident of uncontrolled anger at his workplace.
  • The film explores the therapeutic role of art and theater, as the family members find solace and understanding through their roles in the Shakespearean tragedy.
  • Despite some criticisms of the film's structure and parallels to 'Romeo and Juliet', the performances, especially that of Keith Kupferer, and the exploration of everyday grief and healing have been praised.
Hero image