A movie about an elderly man who takes drastic measures to get his farm back, That Evening Sun makes its local premiere tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It screens At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. Here is our review of the film.
That Evening Sun (U.S., 2009) Getting old is never easy, especially when you’re tucked away in a dismal nursing home. That is what has happened to Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook), despite the fact that he seems perfectly capable of taking care of himself. So he escapes the nursing home one afternoon and returns to his old farm only to find his son (Walton Goggins) has rented the place out to surly deadbeat dad Lonzo (Ray McKinnon) and moved all his furniture into the guest house. Abner is naturally upset and moves himself into the guest house, even though his son advises him to return to the nursing home. He eventually strikes up a friendship with Lonzo’s daughter Pamela (Mia Wasikowska) and even tries to protect her from one of Lonzo’s drunken tirades. Based on a short story, this film is a poignant story, and Holbrook is terrific as a grumpy old man whose stubbornness doesn’t dissuade you from taking his side, even as takes drastic measures to deal with Lonzo. ***
