Time for one of my sappy film choices. I had a difficult time recalling a film that reminds me of a certain event. Was I going to pick something personal or a well known event (e.g. the movie "World Trade Center")? My first choice was "The Dark Knight" because of Heath Ledger but EVERYONE knows about the tragedy surrounding that film.
Instead, I chose the little indie flick, "Waitress". For a romantic drama, "Waitress' is actually...good. Director/writer/co-star Adrienne Shelly illustrates a colorful caricature of a small town diner and the patrons and workers that frequent there, all played by an amazing cast including Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith, and Nathan Fillion. The story revolves around Keri Russell, a waitress and pie-maker who's affair with Fillion jeopardizes her abusive marriage. The clever dialogue and wonderful production of the inner monologues (mainly her making up pie recipes) from Russell keeps you cheering for her character throughout. Without spoiling the film any further, i recommend you see it. I'll explain now what event it reminds me of.
In 2006, a year before "Waitress" was finished production and released at Sundance, Adrienne Shelly was brutally murdered. Leaving behind a two year old daughter and a husband, Shelly's legacy was short-lived but remembered dearly by the independent film community. While watching Shelly act and seeing the final product of her last work, one is haunted by the sadness that we all wish to leave behind while watching movies. Fortunately, the film is a story of redemption and hope; things we all yearn for in these trying times.