Happy Friday Newsletter
November 22nd 2024

Arts & Entertainment

Spanaway Lake's Fantasy Lights Show Off Bates Student's Skills

For nearly 30 years, Bates Technical College Welding students have crafted over 130 festive displays for Spanaway Park’s Fantasy Lights. This year, they’re unveiling a giant 30-foot ferry to honor a key mode of Pacific Northwest transportation. The ferry, built in just one week from three sections, will be part of this year’s enchanting route. This project is a collaboration between Bates and Pierce County Parks, providing students with hands-on experience in welding and design.
Instructor Eric Johnson highlights the real-world learning opportunity, while Dr. Lin Zhou, President of Bates, underscores the importance of this long-standing partnership. Past displays have included creative themes like a Kraken, Sasquatch, and a pirate ship. This holiday season, visitors can enjoy the students' work, which continues to add magic to the annual Fantasy Lights display.
Fantasy Lights is open daily 5:30 - 9:00pm | November 29th - January 5th.
Japanese vocalist Ado Brings World Tour to Tacoma in 2025

Crunchyroll has announced that Japanese vocalist Ado will embark on her second world tour, Ado WORLD TOUR 2025 Hibana Powered by Crunchyroll, following the success of her sold-out first world tour, Wish Powered by Crunchyroll. The new tour, which starts in April 2025 at Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena, will visit over 30 cities worldwide, including stops in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, with the North American leg beginning July 10 in Tacoma, Washington.
Ado, known for her powerful voice and mysterious persona, aims to showcase her growth since the Wish tour. Her music has been featured in popular anime like SPY x FAMILY and ONE PIECE FILM: RED, where her song "New Genesis" topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Tickets are on sale Friday, November 22 at 10am at the Heritage Bank Box Office at the Tacoma Dome or online at ticketmaster.com.
"Walking in Memphis" singer Marc Cohn Kick Offs Tacoma Arts Live Holidays on 11/24

Grammy winning artist for his ballad “Walking in Memphis,” solidified his place in singer-songwriter fame. Rooted in American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel, Marc Cohn weaves vivd tales that evoke feelings of love, hope, faith, joy and even heartbreak.
In 2019, he released a collaborative record with the gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama titled “Work To Do.” It is a hybrid of studio and live performance tracks due to a PBS series taping at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center called “The Kate.”
Marc is bringing that album on tour to the Pantages Theater, Sunday 11/24 at 3:00pm. To buy tickets call the box office at 253.346.1721 or go to the website here.
Geoffrey Castle - A Celtic Christmas Celebration 11/23

Geoffrey Castle, the Northwest’s favorite violin maestro and showman is bringing the 18th edition of his A Celtic Christmas Celebration to Tacoma for one show at the Blue Mouse Theatre on November 23rd at 7pm.

A Celtic Christmas Celebration is a family friendly grand musical production that has thrilled Holiday audiences for almost two decades, featuring the showmanship, fiery fiddle and electric violin magic of Geoffrey Castle, complimented by the Seattle Irish Dance Company, the captivating vocals of Emily McIntosh and the All-Star Celtic Night Band.

Holiday magic begins at the Blue Mouse on November 23rd, get your tickets while they last for A Celtic Christmas Celebration at https://bluemousetheatre.com/production/castle-christmas-concert/

Tickets: $35 adult advance, $17.50 for children under 15, and $40 for adults at the door.
Doors: 6:30pm
Showtime: 7:00pm
Make Your Own Lantern for the Tacoma Light Trail

Families are invited to join @bellstreetcreative for free lantern-making workshops at Tacoma Public Libraries. It’s a fun, hands-on way to connect with your neighbors and add your own light to the Tacoma Light Trail!
Workshop Dates:
November 30 at South Tacoma Library
December 14 at Moore Library
December 21 at Swasey Library
December 28 at Fern Hill Library
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM at all locations
These workshops are free, family-friendly, and open to all ages—bring your creativity, and we’ll supply the materials!
The fundraising goal is $5,000 by Giving Tuesday (December 3)! Your support will help them to continue offering amazing community events and make the Tacoma Light Trail shine even brighter this year. Donate today at: TacomaLightTrail.org/donate.
Let’s light up Tacoma together!
Puget Sound Revels Bring Christmastime in Seneca Village to the Rialto

Puget Sound Revels is thrilled to premiere “Christmastime in Seneca Village” this holiday season at the historic Rialto Theater. For 31 years, Puget Sound Revels has produced an annual holiday show, The Midwinter Revels®, celebrating a different culture from a different time period. The show features traditional songs, dances, and stories and invites audience participation through singing and dancing. This year, Michelle Matlock, playwright and stage director, has written the show inspired by the history of Seneca Village.

This historic village was founded by formerly enslaved African Americans in 1825, and later attracted Irish and German immigrants who were also escaping racism and discrimination. The village thrived as a hub of cultural exchange that was unique for the time period. Community members bought and owned land, and they built homes, churches, schools, and gardens together.

Michelle believes in finding the joy in the stories of the cultures that Puget Sound Revels seek to represent. For the Seneca Village show, in Michelle’s words: “we will be centering African American cultures, and that's going to be really fun, with gospel, folk music, and dancing. The Irish, German, African American community members went to school together, they were buried together, and they went to church together.”

All changed in the 1850’s when the New York Parks Commission decided to create Central Park on and around the site of Seneca Village. In the mid-19th century, local newspapers defamed the Village, painting it as “squatters living in shanties”. The City Parks Commission took advantage of the rhetoric to pursue their goals of building Central Park.
However, recent archeological digs have provided evidence that the Village had a sophisticated culture, refuting the local newspapers. Residents of the Village built two-story homes, possessed porcelain teacups, and left behind evidence of a middle class community.
See Christmastime in Seneca Village: Dec. 14 - 18, 2024 at the historic Rialto Theater.

Neighborhood News

Northwest Justice Project Awarded $135K to Provide Legal Services to Seniors

Northwest Justice Project (NJP) was awarded by Pierce County Human Services. The $135,000 award was given to this publicly funded legal-aid program to help provide legal services to seniors.
This funding comes out of the Federal Older Americans Act Title III-B.
NJP has been providing legal services since 1996 and operates a free intake and referral hotline. This hotline serves as as the statewide centralized access point for clients seeking free legal assistance. These services include limited legal services, advice, referrals to legal aid and local volunteer lawyer programs, self-help materials and education.
UWT is Seeking Community Feedback about Tacoma Campus of the Future

The University of Washington Tacoma is seeking community feedback on its upcoming Master Plan. To ensure a comprehensive and inclusive process, UWT will be hosting a series of engagement sessions inviting community members to share their insights and ideas. If you can't make these sessions, there's a survey available where you can share your thoughts!
For more information, visit https://ow.ly/C3um50UbtV6 Join us for these interactive sessions scheduled for these dates: 📅 Tuesday, December 3 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM 📅 TWO Sessions: Wednesday, December 4 from 9 – 10:30 AM & 12 – 1:30 PM
City Councilmember Sandesh Sadalge Wants to Meet You in District 4

District 4 Residents: Sandesh Sadalge is excited to host this year’s in-person District 4 Town Hall. The meeting will be Wednesday, December 18, from 6 to 7:30 PM at the VFW 969 Hall (3510 McKinley Ave, Tacoma). Everyone who lives, works, and connects with District 4 is invited to join. He will be sharing his accomplishments from the first five months on the City Council, and will also seek input from you to inform his 2025 priorities and what he should work on for constituents next year.
Refreshments and child activities will be provided for event attendees.
Community is encouraged to register in advance and let us know if you need specific accommodations. They strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about this event, please contact Lynda Foster at lynda.foster@cityoftacoma.org.

Need recommendations for how to spend your weekend?
Our online community calendar has you covered!

Click to view Calendar

ART BUS STICKERS Available at STORE link above.

ART BUS and Weekly Volcano Stickers available now at https://weekly-volcano.com/store

Opportunities

Puyallup Tribe Calling for Artists

Puyallup Tribe of Indians and ArtsWA are seeking an individual artist or team to create an original artwork honoring the Indigenous traditions of the Pacific Northwest and Salish Sea, particularly of the Puyallup people.
The artwork will be exterior, in proximity to the Maritime 253 building and new Port of Tacoma business office (the Port Maritime Center). The site is visible from the Murray Morgan (11th Street) bridge and downtown Tacoma.
The selected artist will be expected to:
-Be a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians or Coastal Native American
-Design and propose an artwork for review and approval by Project Team
-Travel to the project site up to three times during the proposal/design process to meet with Project Team
-Work within the fixed budget
-Enter into contracts with Puyallup Tribe and fulfill those requirements
Due Date: Monday, December 12, 2024, 5 PM Pacific Time. Contact Details: Patricia Conway | 253-312-8914 | Patricia.Conway@PuyallupTribe-nsn.gov
Submit Your Pen, Ink and Pastel Artwork to Artco for Gallery

Artco is accepting artwork created with: pen, ink, graphite, colored pencil, chalk, charcoal, Conté crayon, or oil or chalk pastel. A combination of these materials is acceptable but mixed media pieces containing only one of those with other materials will not be accepted. Artwork can be created on any material or surface. All pieces of artwork are required to be hanging ready, this includes wire on the back of your piece or other appropriate hanging hardware. If you need assistance with wiring your artwork, there is a $3.75 fee per piece. If you submit a piece that is not display ready, we will not be able to show your piece. Gallery wall sizes range from 22" to 70" wide and 90" tall. Large pieces cannot exceed 69”x89”.
Please take the time to fill out the application and gallery contract found here: https://forms.gle/2a1ADf79SWJkFniF7Please upload images of the exact pieces you will be submitting to the show.
You may submit up to three (3) pieces of artwork for consideration. Please submit finished pieces, no works in progress. Frames do not need to be included in the images you upload, but artwork size and outside frame dimensions should be properly noted in our “Artwork Info” section of the application. Submitting your work does not guarantee acceptance.
Artwork will be on display for the month of February 2025
Accepted works need to be delivered to Artco by 6pm on Friday January 31st, 2025Pickup of unsold work will be on Friday February 28th,2025 from 10am-6pm. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Gallery Curator, Ashley.
Metro Parks Tacoma is recruiting for two positions on the Park Board

Metro Parks Tacoma will soon be filling two vacancies on its Board of Park Commissioners following the resignation of Commissioners Aaron Pointer and Rosie Ayala.
Aaron Pointer is retiring after 24 years of service, which included three years as board president and three years as clerk. He has been with the Park Board since 2001, during which time he helped secure funding for park system growth through bond measures and contributed to Metro Parks earning national accreditation twice. His resignation takes effect Dec. 10.
Rosie Ayala, who was recently elected to the Pierce County Council, will resign on Dec. 31, 2024. She joined the board in 2022, becoming the first Latina member. Ayala is proud of her work on initiatives like ParksRx and promoting inclusivity and community engagement.
The Board plans to fill these positions through a selection process starting Nov. 19, with the new commissioners expected to be appointed by February 2025. The appointed commissioners will serve until the 2025 election, with one position needing to be filled for a full six-year term.
The Board of Park Commissioners governs Metro Parks Tacoma, which manages over 2,900 acres of land, including parks and regional attractions like the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
To apply, visit: https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/board-vacancies-2024/

Recreation

Registration Open for the Jingle Bell 5K & Kids Dash

The City of Lakewood is partnering with the Lakes Booster Club to host a Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk and 1K Kids Dash.
The event will take place at Fort Steilacoom Park on Saturday Dec 14th.
Holiday wear is encouraged, bring along your pup, and hit the trails.
The 1-mile dash starts at 9:30am and the 5K walk/run starts at 10:00am.
Pre-registration is $10 for 12 and under and $30 for everyone else.
Day of Registration is $15 for 12 and under and $35 for everyone else.

Film & TV Reviews

The City of Las Vegas has changed dramatically over the past 40 years. It was a weekend getaway for mobsters and regular folks who wanted to get lucky. They wanted to win big and go to a classy nudey show, while they forgot about reality for a while. Today, it is an epileptic inducing seizure high on a concoction of drugs and alcohol where everyone wants to see strippers and win big bucks. Sadly those who are members of that golden age, are now viewed as dated and are forced to evolve with the times.

This theme is at the heart of Gia Coppola's latest film, The Last Showgirl, where we follow Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a veteran showgirl whose life falls apart as her show, The Razzle Dazzle, comes to an end after 30-years.

On the surface you can see what Coppola was cooking in The Last Showgirl. At its heart it is a tragic story about a dancer forced to confront her life choices of being a dancer on the V egas Strip for over 30-years. She is not only confronted with her talents as a dancer and her older age, but the consequences of chasing the V egas dream at the cost of her family and close friends. Coppola was on to something special, but sadly it is woefully undercooked. All of these themes that Coppola introduced are never explored. Shelly's complicated relationship with her estranged daughter, Hannah (Billie Lourd) or her complicated relationship with her stage manager and former lover, Eddie (Dave Bautista), who might be Hannah's father. Or Shelly's relationship with dancing as it is clear she is not a good dancer and is forced to adapt to today's standards of dancing.

These themes and many more are scattered throughout The Last Showgirl, but are not given any depth in exploration. Anytime the film has a chance to explore these themes, it cowards as it cuts to Shelly smoking and dancing in a random parking lot. I swear ten of the eighty-five minutes of this film are dedicated to that. With a film that is as short as this one, every second counts and Coppola wasted it.

As it is known, The Last Showgirl is meant to be a comeback and Oscar role for Pamela Anderson and even with a script that is suited to her talents, I still don't think she is a good actress. She only has two moments where you can see some talent, but sadly I think the only reason she got this far in the industry is because she is a pretty face. And this lack of talent is incredibly apparent when she is alongside Jamie Lee Curtis who steals every scene she's in or Dave Bautista who gives an incredibly warm and delicate performance. Then when you throw in Brenda Song, Kieran Shipka, Billie Lourd and Jason Schwartzman into the talent pool, Anderson is sadly out-acted by everyone in the ensemble.

Overall, The Last Showgirl had the potential to be a great film, but it's undercooked script and a poor performance from Pamela Anderson, leaves much to be desired. I believe we can all come to the conclusion that Gia Coppola is the definition of a talentless nepo baby who only gets these jobs because her grandfather is Francis Ford Coppola. Please Hollywood, stop trying to make her happen.

My Rating: C+

Coming to Theaters: December 13th

Film Review: The Last Showgirl

By: Elizabeth Malloy

Director Mohammad Rasoulof is no stranger to defying Iran's strict censorship laws. Over the years, he has faced multiple prison sentences for his outspoken criticism of the Iranian government's treatment of women and protestors. Aware that he was under constant scrutiny, Rasoulof took significant risks to create his latest film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, in secret. When the project came to the attention of Iranian authorities, Rasoulof and several members of the cast and crew were forced to flee the country.

After viewing The Seed of the Sacred Fig and understanding the context of its creation, it’s easy to see why the film provoked such ire. It stands as a fearless act of resistance, a searing indictment of a repressive regime, and a testament to the power of art in the face of oppression.

The story centers on Iman (Messagh Zareh), a dedicated and principled lawyer living with his wife, Najmeh (Soheila Golestani), and their two daughters, Rezvan (Mahsa Rostami) and Sana (Setareh Maleki). Recently appointed as an inspector in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Iman’s new position brings the promise of a higher salary and a more spacious apartment for his family. However, amidst nationwide protests against the authoritarian regime, Iman faces increasing pressure to rubber-stamp rulings handed down by his superiors—many of which include death sentences—without proper judicial review. As the protests escalate, the ideological divide within the family deepens, pitting the conservative parents against their progressively minded daughters, straining their relationships to the breaking point.

Iman becomes increasingly paranoid, fearing that the secrecy of his work may be exposed as protests escalate into violence. Meanwhile, Najmeh clashes with her daughters, clinging to government propaganda while they, through social media, uncover the truth. The film integrates real footage from the 2022 protests following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, grounding its fictional narrative in harrowing reality and heightening its emotional impact. The fragile balance shatters when Rezvan's friend, Sadaf (Niousha Ashshi), is smuggled into their apartment after being wounded by buckshot during a protest.

The camera lingers on Sadaf’s injuries in unflinching close-ups, laying bare the brutal reality faced by innocent victims of violence. Najmeh is deeply shaken, while Rezvan challenges her father, insisting that the protestors are not the enemy but ordinary people yearning for freedom. Iman, however, dismisses her pleas with cold indifference. Tensions in the household reach a breaking point when Iman’s government-issued gun goes missing. The incident plunges the family into a maelstrom of paranoia, betrayal, and escalating brutality, transforming their already strained relationships into a volatile powder keg.

Like much of Iranian cinema, The Seed of the Sacred Fig centers on family drama, but here, the family dynamic becomes a powerful metaphor for the mounting tension between Iran’s authoritarian regime and the growing Women, Life, Freedom Movement. The characters embody this conflict: Iman represents the oppressive government, Najmeh the apolitical bystander, and daughters Rezvan and Sana the revolutionary forces. Set within the confines of their small, suffocating apartment, the rising tensions mirror the sociopolitical unrest outside, as the revolution begins to creep into their fragile household. The confined space becomes a pressure cooker, capturing the psychological toll of living under constant surveillance and fear. The father’s loyalty to the regime, the mother’s conflict shaped by propaganda, and the daughters’ defiance reflect the broader societal divide between conformity, apathy, and resistance. By blending personal and political struggles, the film transforms an intense family drama into a searing indictment of tyranny, exposing its human cost while celebrating the courage of those fighting for freedom.

Despite the remarkable and courageous performances delivered by the entire ensemble, The Seed of the Sacred Fig stumbles in its final act, undermining much of the carefully constructed tension that defines its earlier moments. Throughout the film, the family’s cramped apartment serves as a potent symbol of the claustrophobic pressure exerted by the oppressive regime. The tension within the household is palpable, simmering with an intensity that mirrors the unrest in the streets. However, when the family leaves their home, the narrative seems to lose its anchor. The suffocating atmosphere that once held the audience captive dissipates, and while some tension lingers, it lacks the same urgency and emotional resonance that made the earlier acts so gripping.

Compounding this issue, the final act feels overly drawn out, stretching the film’s nearly three-hour runtime to a point where its pacing begins to falter. The extended conclusion, while ambitious, dilutes the impact of the story’s most powerful moments, making it feel less precise and more indulgent. Trimming the final act by at least 20 minutes could have maintained the momentum and heightened the emotional payoff, elevating the film to a near-masterpiece. With a tighter, more focused conclusion, The Seed of the Sacred Fig could have easily earned a spot among my top five films of the year, standing as a testament to both its bold themes and the strength of its performances.

Overall, The Seed of the Sacred Fig is more than just a film; it is a profound act of bravery and defiance. In a landscape where creative expression is stifled by authoritarian control, Mohammad Rasoulof has crafted a work that dares to speak truth to power, shedding light on the harrowing realities faced by those who resist oppression. The film’s unflinching portrayal of societal and familial conflict not only exposes the human cost of tyranny but also amplifies the voices of those demanding justice and freedom. Its bold narrative, combined with raw, authentic performances, serves as a testament to the power of art as a weapon against repression. In the face of immense personal and professional risk, The Seed of the Sacred Fig stands as a vital and courageous piece of cinema, reminding us of the enduring strength of those who refuse to remain silent.

My Rating: A-

Film Review: The Seed of the Sacred Fig

By: Elizabeth Malloy

When I tell you Nightbitch follows a struggling mother who starts believing she's transforming into a dog, you might tilt your head and wonder, How on Earth are they going to make that work? The premise sounds bizarre, and the trailer doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Yet, against all odds, Marielle Heller pulls it off. While the film could have leaned further into its wilder elements, Nightbitch ultimately succeeds as a heartfelt exploration of a mother’s yearning for freedom and accepting motherhood.

We follow Amy Adams' unnamed stay-at-home mom named, Mother, through her daily life taking care of her two-year-old son. She finds herself trapped in the mundane routine of taking care of him that is rewarding, messy, chaotic and tiring. Even though she loves him unconditionally, she feels a growing sense of dread as she feels like she is losing her identity. And her loss of self is further accelerated when her Husband, Scoot McNairy, doesn't really help around the house and is constantly away on business trips. Thus in her frustration, anger, and depression, she believes that she is turning into a dog. A transformation that is both metaphorical and physical.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Amy Adams turning into a dog. On paper, this transformation shouldn’t work. But it does—because instead of a literal physical change, it functions as a metaphor for the transformative nature of motherhood. Nightbitch doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that motherhood isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Our culture often masks the brutal, isolating, and sometimes depressing realities of being a mother.

Childbirth is a raw, visceral, even violent process, leaving both physical and chemical changes that forever alter a person. You can’t return to who you were before—and for many, that loss can feel like a kind of living hell. While motherhood can absolutely be one of life’s most rewarding experiences, it’s also primal, demanding you to embrace both the beauty and the chaos. The film’s central theme—that surrendering to your primal instincts allows you to fully embody motherhood, with all its light and darkness—is at the core of Nightbitch.

This thematic exploration is Nightbitch’s most compelling aspect, offering a meditative quality anchored by Amy Adams’ raw, vulnerable performance as a mother at her breaking point. However, this journey is also the film’s greatest weakness. The magical realism of her transformation feels underdeveloped, serving more as a metaphorical device than a fully realized narrative element. While the metaphor works beautifully, it raises the question: why introduce it if you are not going to use it.

Furthermore, the characters surrounding Adams feel less like fully realized individuals and more like caricatures designed to serve a specific narrative purpose. This is especially evident with the Husband.

Rather than developing him into a nuanced character who reflects how relationship dynamics shift dramatically after the arrival of a child, he exists primarily to make a point: that fathers—especially semi-absent ones—often fail to grasp the challenges of raising a child. While this idea has merit, the film misses an opportunity to delve deeper into their relationship and the struggles they face in communicating. Instead of exploring the tension and disconnect between them, his character functions solely as a narrative device, reducing what could have been a rich dynamic to a one-noted commentary.

Overall, Nightbitch proved to be an unexpected delight. When the film was first announced, its unusual premise made it hard to predict how it would play out, but Marielle Heller miraculously managed to bring it to life in a compelling way. Despite its occasional rough edges and moments of unevenness, the film succeeds in delivering a poignant and heartfelt narrative. At its core, Nightbitch is a beautifully crafted love letter to mothers everywhere, capturing both the challenges and triumphs of motherhood.

My Rating: B+

Film Review: Nightbitch

By: Elizabeth Malloy

The bond between a human and their furry companion is profound and immeasurable. But what happens when the human leaves this Earth before their loyal friend? How does one explain death to an animal? Do they grieve as we do, or do they simply carry on as though nothing has changed? And is it possible for humans and their animal companions to share grief and find a way to navigate it together? These deeply resonant questions are at the heart of The Friend, directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel.

The film centers on Iris (Naomi Watts), an accomplished novelist and creative writing teacher whose solitary and comfortably ordered life is upended when her closest friend and mentor, Walter (Bill Murray), takes his own life. In an unexpected twist, Walter bequeaths his beloved Great Dane, Apollo, to Iris. While such a premise might initially suggest a zany screwball comedy—an unprepared person inheriting a poorly behaved dog and chaos ensuing—the reality of The Friend is far more poignant. It is a heartfelt exploration of grief, companionship, and the complex emotional bond between humans and animals. Despite some uneven moments, the film delivers a compelling, nuanced portrayal of shared mourning and healing.

Grief is an inherently difficult subject to tackle, especially when it arrives suddenly and without warning, as suicide often does. Walter’s death leaves Iris with an overwhelming sense of loss and a host of unanswered questions. Through her introspective voiceovers, the audience is invited into Iris's conflicted mind as she grapples with questions about her friend’s life and choices. Why did he take his own life? Did he consider the pain he would leave behind? What secrets was he hiding in those 30,000 unread emails?

What about his inappropriate relationships with his female students? And why, of all people, did he leave his massive dog to someone who has no experience taking care of such an animal? These questions haunt Iris as she tries to reframe her memories of Walter while processing her own grief.

Apollo, the Great Dane, is no easy companion at first. Large, imposing, and deeply distressed, he initially appears to be the last thing Iris needs in her fragile state. He is destructive when left alone, unresponsive to commands, and spends hours howling mournfully. Yet, beneath his unruly behavior lies a profound sorrow. Apollo is grieving too. His droopy eyes and somber gaze are mirrors of his emotional pain, making it clear that he is as heartbroken as any human might be. Bing, the Great Dane who plays Apollo, delivers a canine performance so moving it rivals Messi’s unforgettable role in Anatomy of a Fall.

As the story unfolds, Iris and Apollo gradually form an unlikely but deeply moving bond. Their shared experience of grief becomes a bridge that connects them, illustrating the transformative power of companionship in the face of loss. For anyone who has ever found solace in a pet during difficult times, their relationship is achingly familiar. Together, they navigate the murky waters of mourning, finding moments of connection and understanding that bring both healing and hope.

While The Friend succeeds in its emotional depth and character study, it is not without its flaws. The film occasionally feels overly long, with certain subplots—particularly those delving into the complexities of Iris's relationship with Walter—becoming a bit convoluted. However, these shortcomings are outweighed by the film’s poignant exploration of its central themes and the remarkable performances from both its human and animal cast.Ultimately, The Friend is a thoughtful meditation on grief, healing, and the enduring bond between humans and their animal companions. It is a film that dares to ask difficult questions about love, loss, and the shared pain that unites us across species. Though imperfect, it is a deeply affecting story that lingers long after the credits roll.

My Rating: B-

Film Review: The Friend

By: Elizabeth Malloy