Moonlight Mile

Released 2002
Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon, Holly Hunter, Ellen Pompeo, Dabney Coleman
Directed by Lucy Walker

I really enjoyed "Moonlight Mile," which has a different take on grief. As the movie opens, it's clear JoJo (Susan Sarandon) and Ben (Dustin Hoffman) have lost their daughter, but they don't behave the way we expect grieving parents to behave. There's no crying or histrionics, but who says there has to be? I had an uncle who gave me some advice when I was in a similar situation--he told me everyone grieves differently, and he was right. My two brothers and I grieved in three very different ways, and this movie understands that. Ben feels guilty and would like to break down, but he has a funeral and wake to arrange. He has too much responsibility to fall apart, while JoJo just doesn't have it in her. She's the type of person who recognizes the absurdity of life, and she disdains sentimentality and emotion. Although she's lost her only daughter to a senseless murder, she can't go against her nature.

Summary by Bill Alward, April 9, 2003

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