Interviews and Essays
Film Comment: Paul Harrill interviewed by C. Mason Wells.
RogerEbert.com: Serenity Now - Paul Harrill interviewed by Michał Oleszczyk
Vox: How Light from Light’s team used ‘emotional research’ to build an unusual ghost-hunter story - Interview by Alissa Wilkinson.
Filmmaker Magazine: The Soul that Remains: Paul Harrill interviewed by Graham Carter. [Also in Fall 2019 print edition.]
National Catholic Register: Of Grief and Ghosts: Interview With the Writer-Director of Light from Light - Interview by Steven Greydanus.
The Film Stage: Light From Light Director Paul Harrill on the Comfort in Ghost Stories and Breaking Screenwriting Rules - Interview by Jordan Raup.
Il Manifesto: Lo spettro della solitudine [“The Spectre of Solitude”] Interview by Giulia d'Agnolo Vallan. (Italian)
SAG-AFTRA: Foundation Q+A: Marin Ireland, Jim Gaffigan, and Paul Harrill Q+A [video]
Build by Yahoo! [video]: Marin Ireland, Jim Gaffigan & Paul Harrill on Light from Light
Mubi / The Notebook - "Something, Anything": A Conversation with Paul Harrill by Darren Hughes
Christianity Today - "Something, Anything": An Interview with Paul Harrill by Alissa Wilkinson
CultureMap Dallas - "Something Anything's Male Director Gets to the Heart of Women
Filmmaker Magazine: This Film Was Made For You and Me (Essay)
Reviews
LIGHT FROM LIGHT
Justin Chang - The Los Angeles Times: The difficulties of not knowing — what we are, what might happen, where we go when we die — are central to this second feature from the writer-director Paul Harrill. Fittingly enough, I find myself not quite knowing how best to describe this movie and the curious tremors of feeling that it gradually but assuredly induces.
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter: An unconventional ghost story… made all the more transfixing by its defining delicacy and understatement.
Elizabeth Weitzman, The Wrap: A gem likely to stay with anyone smart enough to seek it out.
Jordan Raup, The Film Stage: In the span of only around 80 minutes, Harrill builds a space for his actors to fully inhabit their characters, leading to a blissfully satisfying, profoundly spiritual conclusion.
Stephen Saito, Moveable Fest: Ireland and Gaffigan can express so much with a single glance and they’re both exquisite here, radiating intelligence and uncertainty...[W]hile the characters may be chasing apparitions in Light From Light, it restores one’s belief in other people, a somewhat radical and entirely galvanizing notion for the world we live in now.
Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots: Paul Harrill‘s intensely gorgeous feature Light From Light demonstrates that even the smallest of stories can have a big emotional impact.
Joe Bendel, Unseen Films: Light From Light is a big, muddy river of a film. It is quiet, but it runs deep…Very highly recommended.
Edwanike Harbour, Tone Madison: An anti-ghost story that is so subtle and understated….leaves an emotional impact that will stay with you for days on end.
Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, The New York Times: Sure, Sheila has some "ghosts," and her large eyes carry the weariness of her past, but don't worry about getting struck with that metaphor: Harrill is a far more skilled and subtle director than that.
The mysteries of life, death, grief, loneliness, and disappointment inform this well-acted and emotionally touching film written and directed by Paul Harrill.
- Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Joel Mayward, Cinemayward: Paul Harrill's radiant Light from Light dazzles gradually, illuminating our minds and hearts through its quietly affecting aesthetic.
Steven Greydanus, National Catholic Register: I'm tempted to call Light From Light the first ghost story I've ever seen that I completely believe.
Jake Mulligan, DigBoston: Presents one of the most dignified, humble, and perhaps even aspirational visions of American life I’ve seen in a movie for quite some time.
SOMETHING, ANYTHING
Jeannette Catsoulis - The New York Times: NYT Critics' Pick Emotionally ambitious...a lovely, low-key performance from Ms. Shelton
Michał Oleszczyk - RogerEbert.com: ★★★1/2 (out of 4) A work of...simple, unforgettable beauty.
Matthew Dessem - The Dissolve: Essential Viewing: ★★★★ (out of 5) A remarkable film...Something, Anything is the rare film that gently asks the big questions, then gives us space, and room.
Zachary Wigon, The Village Voice: Critics' Pick: A sure-handed, complex portrait of one woman's attempts to feel alive.
Jaime Christley, Slant: ★★★1/2 (out of 4) The film turns what at first seemingly appears as Kodak moments into a study of a soul in transition.
Justin Chang, Variety: Marks a quietly assured feature debut for writer-director Paul Harrill.
Julie Dawson - TV Bomb [UK]: ★★★★ An impressive accomplishment...particularly remarkable for the deftness of touch with which it addresses such profound issues as religion, identity and personal fulfillment.
Josh Slater Williams - The Skinny [UK]: ★★★★ A concise, fascinating exploration of American life, making pointed use of Southern cultural values for a more universal story.
Steven Neish - Hey U Guys [UK]: ★★★★ Intimate, thoughtful and understated.
Cameron Ward - One Room With a View [UK]: ★★★★ Peppered with quiet intensity, Something, Anything navigates both social realism and the sublime with deftly mediated restraint.
Jeffrey Overstreet - Looking Closer / Patheos: Harrill has made something quiet, observant, provocative, and quite contrary to the popular narrative of the American love story....It’s truthful. It’s affecting. It’s poetic. It’s profound. And it’s often very beautiful.
Glenn Kenny - Some Came Running: Harrill’s writing and directing is sensitive in the best way possible....[Ashley] Shelton’s performance has a steady intensity that gives off a soft but beautiful light throughout.
Joe Blessing - Stage Buddy: Portrays a beautiful quest for meaning, with a simple authenticity.
Alex Barrett - Director's Notes: A beautifully thoughtful debut feature.
Peter Labuza - The Cinephiliacs: A real discovery.
JJ Murphy - On Cinema: Deeply moving....Harrill’s film feels highly personal and contains an undercurrent of sadness that feels heartbreaking...
Matt Prigge - Metro NYC: Gentle, melancholy.... Recommended.
M. Leary, Filmwell @ The Other Journal: Alternately surprising and sublime.
David Hepburn - Milngavie Herald [UK]: One of the true gems of this year’s festival circuit.
Leah Anderst - Bright Lights Film Journal: An important highlight [of BAMcinemaFest].
Jim Ridley -The Nashville Scene: Nashville Film Festival preview.