A lush and lyrical film built around a poem which San Francisco poet and artist Beau Riley wrote as his lover of twelve years lay dying, the film shows one man plumbing the depths of his sorrow to find meaning through the strength of his mind, imagination, and devotion to his partner. Through his powerful poetry, paintings, and testimony, Beau draws a moving portrait of love between two people, each crippled in his own way: David, a paraplegic; Beau, a recovering alcoholic. They find healing and wholeness through one another, have to let go, and help each other in their own ways "cross over" to the other side.
In sharing this personal story, HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS can help us all approach the mystery and sorrow of great loss. A powerful elegy of hope and transcendence, the film is less a tragic story than a triumphant tribute to living life fully, with mindfulness, compassion and creativity. It shows what survives and transcends even death--the unbounded power of spirit and imagination. As Beau contemplates his own mortality, his legacy is to find the magic in the most difficult of life's journey and, from this palate, create an art of remembrance, forgiveness, and moving on.
Honors
Winner, CINE Golden Eagle Award Winner, Best Film, Western Psychological Association Film Festival International Festival on Documentary & Disability (Greece) Sonoma Film Institute San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Bilbao Int'l Festival of Documentary and Short Film (Spain) Mardi Gras International Film Festival (Sydney) Turin International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Italy) Barcelona International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Madrid International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival The New Festival: New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Boston Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Outfest: Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Reeling: Chicago Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting Film Arts Festival
