Over the course of the summer, the Internet has afforded me to become better friends with people I met at the Unseminar. Funny thing, the Internet it granted entry to people who I might never meet any other way. They live far away from my home, like Lynette Patterson, Stephanie Bell, and Amy Scott Grant, then I met a James McDonald, who actually lives a town over from me.

Now you are wondering what that has to do with Act 2 when I said I was going to review a movie right? Well, James is actually a filmmaker, his website is www.LCAFilms.net. (LCA is Lights Camera Action.) Last year the AFI Dallas, International Film Festival, had chosen his movie, Divine Souls, as the festival’s Special Presentation which played to a sold out audience. Unfortunately I did not know him then, but I wanted to see the movie, after some groveling (ok, I just asked), he sent a copy this week.

On Friday night I snuggled up on the couch, with my faux fur blanket, a glass of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice and watched Divine Souls. James was sweet enough to make me promise to give an honest review and not just say “Dude! Great movie!” (Damn it Jim, I’m a writer not a skateboarder! -gratuitous Star Trek semi-quote.)

Divine Souls is an Independent Film; of course, which may be off-putting to some, yet that will be their loss. The movie creates a true to life story of the nurses who work at an AIDS clinic. It actually centers around one nurse in particular, Kerri (Nancy Chartier), whose emotional state is rocked with the cold hard facts of people coming to the clinic to die, and stabilized by the people themselves.

In the beginning you meet Kerri and Stacy, another nurse. Unfortunately this introductory conversation is a bit muffled. This is noticed at two other points, yet these minor sound glitches are easily dismissed.

Not easily dismissed is the the dialogue. Many recent movies have suffered from lack of comfortable conversation. Yet Divine Souls has witty banter, heartfelt discussions and anger have the indulgent feeling of eavesdropping.

This is noticeable while meeting the 9 year old David (Travis Tope). Kerri visits the boy, abandoned at the clinic by his mother, a junkie, who has told him this where you will die. She often leaves David’s room, to go to the break room, where Bob an older patient is often seen. This moments and others make Kerri’s growing attachment to David easily felt.

Lisa, played by Jeffie Legends, is another AIDS patient who was at the hospital. Unknown to cast and crew, was dying from cancer as the movie was filmed; thus the movie was dedicated to her. But her performance and traumas as they are revealed is gripping and emotional.

But life goes on outside the clinic, as Kerri meets a friend and tries to flirt with Gavin, a waiter, at the Bronx, a local hangout. Later, we see her at the Bronx getting drunk, because David is getting worse. Then as her relationship with Gavin grows.

The time progresses with a black out and scene change, it becomes a rhythmic beat. Regrettably some scene changes bring the sad disappearance of another clinic resident. Most touching is the filming angle chosen with David’s loss. Most of the music is from Erin McGrew, with a bit of Pachelbel’s Canon in D played during Kerri’s date.

I highly recommend this movie. However, it’s not available for sell just yet. If you would like to see this movie, please leave a comment below. “The proper authorities” shall be notified.