Three Days in August

An adopted middle-aged woman, Shannon, gathers her splintered family together in a country retreat three days in August in an attempt to discover who she really is. Actress Mollie Milligan beautifully portrays this lost and lonely soul who believes that painting a family portrait will somehow answer the question that has tormented her all her life. Her adoptive mother, played by veteran Mariette Hartley, gives her love and solace, but Shannon needs something more, something she can get only from her birth mother Maggie (Meg Foster). A beautiful film. A healing landscape. A loving resolution.

The story of adoption is true for all of us whether we know someone who is adopted, are adopted ourselves, have blended families, or have taken a child in foster care. It's not just the "someone else"; it is our story and has been for millennia. I guess that is why Three Days in August touches my heart and speaks to us all. We all want to belong and know how and where we fit in. It sounds easy: take a baby, raise her with love, and everything will be perfect. Ahh, but there is more, of course. This film beautifully touches on the complexity of relationships and Family (with a capital F). We are Family in all the different forms and embodiments, and as Family we can't help but touch many other people. Beautifully presented and well acted with Barry Bostwick, Mariette Hartley, and Meg Foster. Ms. Foster was a force! Mollie Milligan, as the lead character, Shannon, was excellent. Dallas director Johnathan Brownlee did a fantastic job, and the Texas location couldn't have been more perfect.

This is a film that can always stay with you, sweetly in your heart. And for me, I will want to watch again and again. It's about family, acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, the power and connectivity of art, and ultimately, love. This is a masterpiece, beautifully shown and it has a great Irish texture to it that just makes you want to BE with it. It is a very honest look at the capacity we have to truly love and understand each other when it is in our heart to do so. I loved it!

This film is a beautiful piece which envelops the idea of mending a seemingly shattered relationship. It really connects with the viewers through the concept of giving someone the chance of a better life through a seemingly dampening and sad decision. The strong desire of the lead character, Shannon, to seek out the connection of her birth mother with her adoptive family runs purely through my heart. A fantastic piece by Chad Berry, executed perfectly by Johnathan Brownlee. I would very much recommend this film for its healing and powerful story.