Product Description A gripping drama follows a down on his luck musician who is convinced by his therapist, a man with motives of his own, that the best option for his family is to completelt disappear and start a new life with a new identity. Winner of multiple festival audience and director awards. Review I recently had the opportunity to screen an independent film that I missed a few months back at the Austin Film Festival where it received a lot of good buzz. So many times when a movie doesn't make it onto my schedule, it is rare treat to get another chance ti check it out. Boy am I glad that I was given another chance to see STRINGS. The story centers around Billy, a piano man who is not only struggling to make a living as a musician, he is also fighting to salvage his marriage with his wife Chavine following the tragic loss of their daughter. Not helping matters, Chavine numbs the pain with alcohol and is constantly reminded by her mom that Billy's lack of steady income was a major contributing factor when health care costs prevented the couple from saving their little one. While all of this may sound seriously dreary, it's what happens when Billy seeks solace at a grief support group that changes the direction of the film entirely. Billy chooses to participate in a secret radical form of therapy wherein an individual completely cuts all ties, or strings, to his or her past and takes on a completely new identity. The catch is that in exchange for erasing his existence, Billy must become "Jimmy", a member of a clandestine group of for-hire vigilantes. The group practices zero tolerance when it comes to cutting all ties to their former lives and staying on the down-low. Members who fail are swiftly executed by the merciless leader of the pack. When the newly indoctrinated Jimmy breaks the rule of anonymity by showing up on a surveillance video, he is granted one more chance, albeit one that requires him to undergo massive reconstructive surgery that will once and for all erase any resemblance to his former self. From here the story gets even more intense as the new Jimmy fails to resist the temptation to check in on the loved ones from his past. Directing team Ben Foster and Mark Dennis weave a wholly unique story that resembles nothing I can recall. Just when I was beginning to think that STRINGS was another indie drama, the directors shifted the tone, and suddenly I found myself enjoying more of a thriller than the usual histrionic fare. When the action eventually dies down, the remainder of the film proves to be a very poignant and bittersweet tale about confronting the past and ultimately finding resolve. The film is beautifully shot in a captivating style that perfectly compliments the seriousness of the subject matter. Blues and grays dominate the palate while lovely lingering shots and various interesting transitions make for an overall top notch visual experience. Thanks to a wonderfully fresh story from writer/co-director Mark Dennis, the finale of the film truly feels like the end of an incredible journey. The performances by Billy Harvey and Chris Potter in the duel Billy/Jimmy roles are solid and solemn, but are fortunately not overly dramatic. Though Elle LaMont's Chavine doesn't have a lot to work with in her brief scenes at the beginning of the film, she finally gets her turn in the third act and succinctly captures the heartache of the character. The scene stealers, however, are the baddies of the vigilante group, Cleveland Trombone and Jack played by Karl Anderson and Jack Lee, respectively. The stellar performances from these two elevate the film even further from the standard indie drama. So now that I've stamped STRINGS with my definite seal of approval, I am most happy to report that everyone will soon have an opportunity to check it out. I think you will be as pleasantly surprised by STRINGS as I was. - Annette Kellerman --Ain't It Cool News