Ballast
Ballast is a stark but lyrical portrait of three people whose lives are brought together when suicide shatters the stasis of a small Mississippi Delta town. First-time director Lance Hammer exposes their pain and patient endurance through gritty realism and an organically produced cast. Winner of Best Director and Cinematography Awards at the Sundance Film Festival.
Director Lance Hammer scheduled to attend both screenings
Sponsor:
ColorsNW Magazine
Cast & Crew
Director: Lance Hammer
Producer: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh
Editor: Lance Hammer
Screenwriter: Lance Hammer
Cinematographer: Lol Crawley
Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2008 (Directing Award, Cinematography Award)
Music: John Bissell, Jerry Lousteau
Principal Cast: Michael Smith Jr., Jim Myron Ross, Tarra Riggs
Filmography: Debut Feature Film
US Distributor: IFC Films
World Sales: Celluloid Dreams
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(4 reviews)
user reviews
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Quietly builds a story that pulls you in, May 17, 2008
By Rich Wasserman
“An often bleak, but equal parts engrossing drama about three people struggling to find something positive in life. The movie begins with a neighbor finding a man at home in almost a comatose state of depression after his twin brother has committed suicide. The other two characters are the young son”
… full review
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Ballast, May 18, 2008
By Jeff Cavanaugh
“Another in the SIFF 2008 Suicide Express series. Apparently, 'first time director' means 'can't afford a tripod for my camera'. Filmed with handheld shots throughout, giving a documentary feel (i.e. 'gritty realism') to what's supposed to be an über-dysfunctional family drama, this film will make”
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My patience was rewarded, May 24, 2008
By Denise L.
“This film showed the best of the gritty, unchanging Mississippi Delta. The slow pace of the story allowed me to fill in the blanks and see the dimensions of each, respective character. I did dislike the hand-held camera approach. Nevertheless, I cared about these characters and their seemingly”
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Best film of the festival.., May 30, 2008
By Andrew Toms
“An amazing and sobering film with incredible (and seemingly) non-actor, performances.
I agree with the previous comment regarding the shaky-cam; if you are sensitive, it might be a little uncomfortable. However, if you're not a baby and most likely know what you're in for, you'll be rewarded. ”
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