What do a construction worker who has never acted before and the most famous Shakespeare play have in common? Not much at first glance, but directors Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson are somehow able to connect two seemingly unrelated things together in a wonderfully surprising way. This is the real-life couple’s second film collaboration after the acclaimed Saint Frances which won big at SXSW in 2019.

When we first meet Dan Mueller (Keith Kupferer), he’s drilling holes in the middle of a busy Chicago street. Dan is a closed-off and mild-mannered man, but one day that pent-up rage burst out and nearly cost him his job. It so happens that Rita (Dolly De Leon), who’s organizing a Romeo & Juliet community theater production nearby, witnesses that incident and invites Dan to join in to be a part of it. Dan is reluctant at first, but feisty Rita is persistent. “You might want a chance to be someone else for a while,” she says quite astutely.

The script by Kelly O’Sullivan isn’t overwritten and flows in a natural way. It drops viewers right in the middle of the protagonist’s personal crisis without any stuffy exposition. What’s unique about this film is that the actors playing the husband (Kupferer), wife Sharon (Tara Mallen), and their daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) are members of the same family in real life. Daisy is no delicate flower, she’s angsty and ill-tempered, which gets her suspended from her school. The movie takes its time to shed light on why Dan and Daisy are so angry, why they’re in therapy, and what the impending deposition is all about. The indescribable loss and the prolonged legal proceedings put further strain on the family.

Comedy and tragedy are often intertwined, and that’s palpable in Ghostlight, which makes you shed tears from laughing and crying. Dan’s fish-out-of-water experience during production is quite hilarious but also deeply poignant. There’s a funny scene of Dan watching Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo + Juliet, juxtaposed with a scene of him lashing out during the read-through, demanding they change the ending that ends with the characters dying. It’s heartbreaking to learn about the details of Dan’s son Brian’s untimely death, which serendipitously mimics the Bard’s tale of star-crossed lovers. The choice of songs used in the movie, such as Oklahoma’s Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ in the opening scene, is in keeping with the theater theme, while also hinting at how Dan is still haunted by the memory of that night of Brian’s death.

While the character development mostly centers on Dan and how the play actually repairs the rift between him and his family, the drama within the production gives us a glimpse into Rita. She used to be a theater actress in New York City, and she’s always wanted to play Juliet. She finally gets her chance, and she’s not going to let an insult that she’s too old for the role get in the way. De Leon is the breakout star of Triangle of Sadness, and she’s got that spunky quality she brings to the role of Rita that’s exciting to watch. Daisy’s arc is compelling as the theater troupe embraces her and accepts her for who she is. It’s fun to see her channel that pent-up emotion into something more positive in a rousing karaoke scene. Sharon doesn’t get much screen time, but she too gets a chance to shine here.

Art as a healing power is a concept we’ve seen before, but it’s never felt as authentic and personal as Ghostlight, thanks to the cast’s phenomenal performances. Kupferer and Mallon are Chicago theater legends, so the story of how art can bring healing and even redemption must have resonated strongly with them. While this is Katherine’s only fourth feature, she grew up in the theater world, and clearly she inherited her acting talent from her parents. As a drama enthusiast, this theater motif is especially enjoyable for me, but the story feels both intimate and universal enough to resonate with anyone who’s ever faced personal loss or family grievances.

I’m glad I saw Ghostlight on the big screen at MSPIFF closing night. Now that it’s released in theaters, I encourage you to seek out this hidden gem. It’s no hyperbole to call this one one of the best films of 2024, which will likely end up on my top 10 list.

Have you seen Ghostlight yet? I’d love to hear what you think!
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