Review: Adrianne & the Castle (SXSW 2024)

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Title: Adrienne & the Castle
MPA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Shannon Walsh
Starring: Alan St-George, SLee, Tamsen Glaser
Runtime: 1 hr 26 mins

What It Is: Alan (played by himself because this is a documentary) never thought he’d meet the love of his life at the strangest of times but when he did it just made sense. He and his wife Adrianne created a life like no other. He even built a castle for his (now late) wife. Through a fantasy reenactment he gets to relive the good, the great and the unforgettable woman that was Adrianne. With every scene transporting him to these special moments that formed his life.

What We Think: Perhaps Alan’s greatest gift to his wife is this film. A documentary that shows that she, clearly, was the love of his life and that his life without her in it is all the lesser. You can build her a castle but her legacy will be the love of her husband. That love shared gorgeously within the confines of this brilliant documentary. Shannon Walsh really lets Alan St-George tell the story of his life and his wife to us. We as the audience feel privileged to be let into the castle, even if it is only for a moment.

Our Grade: B-, Rarely are there documentaries that truly show a love like that of Alan and Adrianne. This is a film that could easily make you weep at the simple beauty of two people who know they are each others destiny. Shannon Walsh handles the pure emotion of it all in stride. So very well executed by her. This is certainly a film that brings the feels. Depending on where you are in your life and your relationships this film has different bits of heft. The entire angle of the skits didn’t work as well as I wanted it to. Thats a small price to pay though honestly to get to the root of this story.

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