August 28, 2024
FILM: THE SECRET ART OF HUMAN FLIGHT
DIRECTED BY: H.P. MENDOZA
STARRING: GRANT ROSENMEYER, PAUL RACI, LUCY DEVITO
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There are a number of stories and films about grief but nothing quite like The Secret Art of Human Flight. Early in the film we learn that Ben Grady’s (Grant Rosenmeyer) wife Sarah (Reina Hardesty) has suddenly passed away. The two of them were writers with an imaginative perspective on storytelling. Because of her untimely passing, Ben spends the subsequent days almost comatose in his front yard until he is “awakened” by someone he sees on the dark web. Mealworm (Paul Raci) claims he can help people learn to fly. This becomes Ben’s obsession as a way to keep himself and his mind occupied. Complications set in when Mealworm shows up at his door and Ben’s family and neighbors worry something is seriously wrong.
The film explores a number of interesting themes, not the least of which is grief. While there may not be many people who connect specifically with Ben’s desire to fly during such circumstances, the need to find oneself in the aftermath of a spouse’s death is certainly recognizable. Perhaps like a therapist, Mealworm becomes a spiritual life coach for Ben. He’s providing something for Ben that gives his life some focus. Other than a neighbor (Maggie Grace) who has also lost someone, Ben is surrounded by people who are annoyingly cold to him. This includes his sister Gloria (Lucy DeVito), who only wants him to move on, and a detective (Rosa Arredondo) who appears more interested in pinning Sarah’s death on Ben than giving him space to heal. They don’t seem to understand the grief. Mealworm is offering Ben a very methodical, if often random series of “training” exercises to guide Ben towards his eventual goal.
The other big theme of the narrative relates to this: Are the rules of the various “how-to” internet programs worth following? How much legitimacy should we give them? What if they’re not safe and yet people get something out of them nonetheless? It isn’t a coincidence that before her death Sarah had a following on a TikTok-like platform to which she seemed to religiously upload her status on a regular basis. I think the film is exploring the digital world we live in during the 21st Century that often seeks to help and manipulate those that seek answers.
The tone of the film varies from comedic to, in at least one scene, a bit horrific. There is a lightness though to the lead performances that make the film relatable and not overly melodramatic. Grant Rosemeyer is fine as Ben. He captures a wide variety of emotions that reflect his character’s arc – even if it at times Ben seems to transition out of a grieving state perhaps a bit too quickly. The real star here is Paul Raci as Mealworm. Raci was previously nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role of Joe in the film Sound of Metal. With his long hair and “guru” style clothes, he comes across as what we might expect from a spiritual leader. But Raci infuses the character with a degree of levity thanks to some of the witty dialogue he is given. It’s not always easy to tell exactly where Mealworm is coming from and if he is legitimate or not but that’s part of the point. Raci balances that line quite well throughout the film. He’s a great character with a potentially even more interesting back story.
There are a few scenes that go on longer than necessary and the ending might prove frustrating for some but it works in the context of this story thanks to director H.P. Mendoza’s work at keeping an air of mystery throughout the film and a sense that this is a story about the many routes to confront grief.
The Secret Art of Human Flight is now available to rent on Amazon Prime.
FILM: THE SECRET ART OF HUMAN FLIGHT
DIRECTED BY: H.P. MENDOZA
STARRING: GRANT ROSENMEYER, PAUL RACI, LUCY DEVITO
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There are a number of stories and films about grief but nothing quite like The Secret Art of Human Flight. Early in the film we learn that Ben Grady’s (Grant Rosenmeyer) wife Sarah (Reina Hardesty) has suddenly passed away. The two of them were writers with an imaginative perspective on storytelling. Because of her untimely passing, Ben spends the subsequent days almost comatose in his front yard until he is “awakened” by someone he sees on the dark web. Mealworm (Paul Raci) claims he can help people learn to fly. This becomes Ben’s obsession as a way to keep himself and his mind occupied. Complications set in when Mealworm shows up at his door and Ben’s family and neighbors worry something is seriously wrong.
The film explores a number of interesting themes, not the least of which is grief. While there may not be many people who connect specifically with Ben’s desire to fly during such circumstances, the need to find oneself in the aftermath of a spouse’s death is certainly recognizable. Perhaps like a therapist, Mealworm becomes a spiritual life coach for Ben. He’s providing something for Ben that gives his life some focus. Other than a neighbor (Maggie Grace) who has also lost someone, Ben is surrounded by people who are annoyingly cold to him. This includes his sister Gloria (Lucy DeVito), who only wants him to move on, and a detective (Rosa Arredondo) who appears more interested in pinning Sarah’s death on Ben than giving him space to heal. They don’t seem to understand the grief. Mealworm is offering Ben a very methodical, if often random series of “training” exercises to guide Ben towards his eventual goal.
The other big theme of the narrative relates to this: Are the rules of the various “how-to” internet programs worth following? How much legitimacy should we give them? What if they’re not safe and yet people get something out of them nonetheless? It isn’t a coincidence that before her death Sarah had a following on a TikTok-like platform to which she seemed to religiously upload her status on a regular basis. I think the film is exploring the digital world we live in during the 21st Century that often seeks to help and manipulate those that seek answers.
The tone of the film varies from comedic to, in at least one scene, a bit horrific. There is a lightness though to the lead performances that make the film relatable and not overly melodramatic. Grant Rosemeyer is fine as Ben. He captures a wide variety of emotions that reflect his character’s arc – even if it at times Ben seems to transition out of a grieving state perhaps a bit too quickly. The real star here is Paul Raci as Mealworm. Raci was previously nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role of Joe in the film Sound of Metal. With his long hair and “guru” style clothes, he comes across as what we might expect from a spiritual leader. But Raci infuses the character with a degree of levity thanks to some of the witty dialogue he is given. It’s not always easy to tell exactly where Mealworm is coming from and if he is legitimate or not but that’s part of the point. Raci balances that line quite well throughout the film. He’s a great character with a potentially even more interesting back story.
There are a few scenes that go on longer than necessary and the ending might prove frustrating for some but it works in the context of this story thanks to director H.P. Mendoza’s work at keeping an air of mystery throughout the film and a sense that this is a story about the many routes to confront grief.
The Secret Art of Human Flight is now available to rent on Amazon Prime.