Screening at The
KUBUKU RIDES (This is It)
Based on Larry Brown's haunting short story, "KUBUKU RIDES (This is It)" affords the audience an unblinking view of a household steeped in secrets and desperation. We experience Angel's intense addiction from a harrowing insider's view - through the eyes of her 8-year old son. Angel's husband Alan tries to hold his family together, but one terrible day will test their love and change everything between them.
Directors Statement:
I've always loved the short form, and I wanted to explore making a film that wasn't reliant on a three-act structure. I was a fan of Larry Brown for a long time, and this short story was truly unique - it had the urgency and the desperation of great drama, and a first person narration that was at once omniscient while still being invested emotionally in the woman who is the central character. When I started writing it, I was personally dealing with a similar character - a person who was disenfranchised, running from her own pain, running from those who loved her - so I just adapted it, and, instead of the woman, the omniscient narrator kind of organically became the little boy in the story, defending his mother as we watch her self-destruct. Then I brought it to Doug Bost, who did a re-write, and suddenly, the boy's voice was the mother's FANTASY of his defense of her. And we sent it back and forth to each other for awhile, until we were both happy with it. The act structure I was trying to avoid sort of appeared on its own anyway, which felt like poetic justice.
I love stories about the people on the periphery of life, without options, too fragile for the world, and with big and broken hearts. Those people need to have their stories told. Larry Brown knew those people well and I'm grateful I found his stuff.
- Terry Kinney
