The Polish Brothers’ Stay Cool

Screening : Tue, Apr 28, 9:15PM - Fri, May 01, 12:45PM

Last week I got to see Stay Cool the new film by the Polish Brothers that looks at how we all hold on to our past - especially our past from high school.  In the film the main character goes back to his hometown after almost 20 years of being away to give the commencement speech at his old high school’s graduation.  While there he has to come to terms with the girl who got away and his past in general.

The movie is cast with a bunch of 80’s icons - Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, the Dad from Family Ties, the Mom from ET -  to round out the idea of revisiting one’s past.  After the movie I actually got to sit down and listen to Michael and Mark Polish, along with Sean Astin, talk a bit about their movie and the ideas behind it.  To me, the most interesting thing about the film, and the Polish Brothers in general, is their process.  They really exemplify independent cinema and for years have relied on a small community and determination to make their films.  They discussed how for them, they like being able to write a film and then make it - they don’t like waiting around for big Hollywood money to come in - which can often take a long long time.

In terms of the movie the discussion revolved a lot around what it is like to go back to one’s hometown and the experience that is high school.  The film was based on composites of people The Polish Brothers knew and was actually quite cathartic for them. They talked about the idea of “living memory” and things being just as you left them.   And in terms of what it is actually like to go back - I suggest you watch the video of Sean Astin below where he talks about what it is like to go back to his wife’s small hometown in Indiana:

Sean Astin discusses visiting his wife’s hometown from TakePart on Vimeo.