Beau is a mess. He has been living in New York for a few years shy of a decade, the past few sleeping on the streets. He left his home in Texas to participate in Occupy Wall Street, but once it ended he had trouble moving on. His family has to find out exactly where he is living to convince him to come home and deal with his parents’ dying wish – for him to be the legal guardian of his two younger sisters. This wonderful film explores how people differ when it comes to handling grief while showcasing an excellent script, a talented cast, and an outstanding soundtrack.
It is exciting watching multitalented people create art. For instance, the actor who plays the lead actor in this film also wrote the script for it. The script is excellent on its own, delivering both agonizing and heartwarming moments that the viewer cannot let go of after the end credits roll. The characters are so real that you connect to them with ease and you find yourself swept up in the hardships that unfold around them. Of course, it helps that the cast is so incredibly talented. The casting mixes famous faces like “Frasier” actress Peri Gilpin with brilliant unknowns like the breakout performance of twelve year old Catherine “Cappy” Elvir. The only slight issue with the casting is that of Lorelei Linklater. Cast as the brooding teen with dark hair, she does not at all look like her siblings. When you first see her and Arden (Elvir) at the funeral, she definitely seems like a relative but certainly not the pale blonde’s older sister. Siblings, of course, can have different colored hair than each other. There is just something about her that makes her stick out. As the film goes on, you fall in love with her character as you discover her secrets and you forget the fact that she seems out of place.
The soundtrack chosen for the film complements the story perfectly. Packed full of indie tunes, each song just fits into place. None of the music is too overbearing and none of the tracks distract you from what is developing on screen. The style of music just adds some excellent depth to each of the scenes. If there is one independent film that deserves its own soundtrack, it is this one.
“Occupy Texas” is a truly outstanding film that has lines so funny or so haunting that it is hard to not try to slip them into your every day life. The story is so beautiful and so well-written that you fall in love with the characters, no matter how dysfunctional they are.
