The Event

Olympia Dukakis of "Tales of the City" fame, indie-film favorite Parker Posey and Canadian actor/director Don McKellar are just part of the strong ensemble cast in director Thom Fitzgerald's film. A mystery and human drama with a good dose of humor, The Event focuses on Matt (McKellar) who, sick from AIDS, wants to die--and die on his terms--at home with family and friends present. But choosing to die is illegal and assisting in his death, a crime. All the while Nick (Posey), a hard-nosed detective, investigates a series of unexplained deaths in the gay Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. As she interviews family members of the deceased she begins to discover the truth behind each "event" and starts to question her own professional and personal ethics.

An intricate, moving tale which poses as many questions as it answers, The Event tackles the controversies surrounding assisted suicide, AIDS, politics and the transcendent power of love. Unfortunately even this stellar cast can't overcome the stiff script, morbid topic and technical weaknesses of the film.

Noelle Reilly