★★★★★

The best film I saw at the 51st Seattle International Film Festival was David Fortune’s Color Book, a debut film that grows more special and important the longer you sit with it. Fortune’s feature film debut as writer and director stirs up those same feelings I had watching films like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere or Sean Baker’s Tangerine. Films made by powerful storytellers, with a unique eye for shining a spotlight on people so often marginalized, overlooked, or ignored by society.

Fortune’s storytelling is deeply empathetic. His film is elevated by two tremendous performances. As recently widowed father Lucky, William Catlett is remarkable as a single dad trying to establish a new normal for his 11-year-old son Mason (Jeremiah Alexander Daniels). Mason, who has Down syndrome, seems to go with the flow, occasionally pushing back or rebelling when he strongly wants something.

For Lucky, that bond is both affirming and exhausting. As he learns to become the single parent to his son, Mason needs consistency and Lucky is able to maintain some routines while others falter. Color Book is as much a movie about survival and resilience as it is about healing and recovery. Fortune explores the way we push forward through difficult obstacles when others depend on us, even if we sometimes lack the strength to be the person people rely on.

Shot in beautiful black-and-white, Color Book blends dramatic emotional swings with soft, tender moments of discovery. The main story focuses on Lucky deciding to take Mason to his first Atlanta Braves’ baseball game. Cinematographer Nikolaus Summerer captures the city’s sights and sounds and pays tribute to a city often relegated to tropes and stereotypes. Here, even in monochromatic hues, Atlanta feels vibrant, bustling, a place where things happen.

As their journey becomes fraught with issues and delays, Color Book also paints a picture of adaptability and patience. Daniels is a revelation - his expressive eyes radiate tremendous emotion and though his words are few, when he speaks he hits you right in the heart. The recurring symbolism of a single balloon becomes a beautiful metaphor for love, loss, and holding on to something for as long as possible.

I cannot praise the film enough. This is a powerful, unforgettable experience, a movie that deserves a distributor and to be seen by audiences everywhere. At the movie’s second screening during the Seattle International Film Festival, Color Book received a rare standing ovation from those in attendance. The theater was packed. Tickets were on standby. People wanted to experience the film and the buzz the film was generating.

Remember the name Color Book. Keep an eye out for it. David Fortune has created something truly special, a moving cinematic experience that makes you feel as if you are witnessing greatness unfold right in front of you.