SXSW Film
Reviews and interviews
By Belinda Acosta, Fri., March 20, 2009
Luckey
Documentary Feature, Emerging VisionsD: Laura Longsworth
This could be another "why do bad things happen to good people?" film, except director Laura Longsworth has found the ideal subject for this oft-told story – in this case, sculptor Tom Luckey, who designs breathtaking, climbable sculptures for children. After a freak accident leaves him a quadriplegic, Luckey's family rushes to his aid, but relearning their new roles in the aftermath is as jarring as the accident itself. The poignancy of the film comes from several directions. It's heartbreaking enough seeing Luckey unable to navigate his own work, but watching him at the mercy of his well-meaning but unyielding son on one end and his continually harried wife and caretaker on the other gets to the heart of what a health crisis does to a family and how "quality of life" is about much more than physical care and comfort, but about the spirit and imagination as well.
Saturday, March 21, 12:30pm, Alamo Ritz