Chained for Life

On a film set, an actress seeks to connect with her disfigured co-star. The film opens with a long scroll quote from Pauline Kael, a film critic from for the New Yorker from 1968 to 1991. It concerns beauty on film and why it's not wrong to want to see attractive persons on the big screen. Certainly a hidden gem if you appreciate reality and surreality flavored with insight, character, and humor. Trivia: Herr Director is played by Charlie Korsmo who played Jack Banning, Peter Pan's son, in Hook. He has since retired from acting and is now a professor of corporate law. The title may refer to a film of the same name that featured conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.

This is very much an indie/b-movie film. I can see that it's trying to challenge peoples view of disfigured people or that it's criticising the stereotypical depiction of this in films but I didn't feel the film really 'worked'. There's not enough strong plot direction. The plot synopsis says "A beautiful actress struggles to connect with her disfigured co-star on the set of a European auteur's English-language debut." yet the actress doesn't seem to struggle to connect with the disfigured actor at all, as far as I could tell, indeed they seem to get on ok, so I don't understand that. This must be meant to be some kind of parody of b-movies or the like but I didn't find it especially amusing or even really all that thought provoking. Anyway, I'm not too bothered about peoples looks, for the record, I was more confused about the plot direction - it felt a bit aimless and certainly was neither memorable, not did it have any strong impact on me personally, so I wouldn't recommend this, no. A bit niche perhaps?. I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel thinking of seriously deformed or disfigured people as being the title of this film - chained for life. I'd like to think people wouldn't feel so removed from society purely due to their face not fitting in to what people in western society regard as acceptable but seeing this film hasn't changed my viewpoints on any of that sort of thing. I wouldn't recommend this film, that's all I can really say.

Beautifully shot, and sharply incisive.

Not sure what was the meaning of this mess, but I know that, if there ever was one, it eluded me.

Adam Pearson is charming in 'Chained for Life', a movie that runs out of steam in the third act, but is still worth a watch if you can find it! Jess Weixler has been waiting for that breakout roll and she finds it here. It's a fantastic lead duo, but it's a movie about a movie and that's been done better way too many times. It's artistically gorgeous, and visually stunning, but it just miles away from best in its field. Thanks to the will power of the two stars it's completely watchable and enjoyable! Final Score: 6.7/10

Incredibly poignant. Deep at heart, this film is a love story and the beauty of the director Aaron Schimberg's approach to telling that story reveals the characters in ways that were both surprising and illuminating. At times, I felt I was watching a Choose Your Own Adventure paperback co-imagined by David Lynch & Katherine Dunn. Highly recommended for film lovers that enjoy European cinema or indies that take you on a completely unexpected journey.

Besides the tremendous acting from Jess Weixler this movie is absolutely atrocious. It was all over the place and made no sense whatsoever. I was completely lost and had no idea what was going on the whole movie. I still don't know what the heck I watched. Would not recommend this film.

Smart, smart and smart. Big hearted. Funny.

Great cinematography, acting and writing rolled into a very clever and engaging film. So clever that you were not always sure if you were watching the movie or the movie within the movie. I certainly recommend this film for film buffs.

Es un ensayo sobre la estética y sobre nuestros conceptos de que consideramos "normal". La historia esta montada en un melodrama agradable, entretenido, que hace reflexionar a través de personajes que cuentan con carácteres muy diferenciados. Va pasando de la realidad a la imaginación logrando una buena reflexión del mundo que cada cual experimenta.