Claire (2001) (Full B&W)

Set in a storybook 1920s rural American South and inspired by the Japanese fairytale "Kaguyahime," Milford Thomas' CLAIRE tells the story of a childless, elderly male couple who discover a princess made of moonlight inside an ear of corn. The enchanting young Claire bewitches onlookers with her readings of fantastic poetry in unfamiliar languages, entrances a local boy who courts tragedy when he tries to win her affection, and unwittingly becomes a healer in the process. While exemplifying the untraditional family (two men lovingly raising a moon-child), CLAIRE celebrates the diversity of family and sublimely addresses the grief associated with losing a loved one.

An homage to early cinema, the film was glowingly shot on a vintage hand-cranked 35mm camera and is accompanied by the Orchestra De Lune conducted by Anne Richardson. Like its silent-era camera, all set-design and special effects were achieved the old-fashioned way, using canvas backgrounds, semi-hidden wires and multiple exposures, creating a timeless atmosphere of wonderment and magic.

CLAIRE is written, directed, produced and edited by Milford Thomas and stars Toniet Gallego, Mish P. DeLight, James Ferguson.

Spotlight Reviews
And You Thought Old Movies were "primitive" ! (2008-05-11)
Customer Review : 5
I saw this at the Maryland Film Festival with the live orchestra. Even my 2-year-old daughter was enthralled. I'm SOOOO glad it's available on DVD now. Simply stunning and luminous, reminiscent of the work of F.W. Murnau. A truly unique re-creation of a lost art. With an estimated 90% of the original silent films now believed to be lost, we need more people to step up to the plate and make movies like this! I have long had a fantasy of being in a silent film myself; the nearest I can manage is an opera with a heroine that recalls that era -- Google "passion of persephone"

Beautiful, Original and Touching (2007-01-14)
Customer Review : 5
Unique idea, well-executed, screened with an original score performed live by an orchestral group which makes it that much more emotional, charming and touching. Shot on, I believe, a hand-crank 1920's (?)camera for the most part (or perhaps entirely). Even if it weren't so absolutely compelling and interesting to watch and listen to, the story itself is so charming, uplifting, enlightening, if not a bit heartbreaking, that it alone deserves to be experienced. Loved it, and would see it again live in a heartbeat if it were to come back to town. Bought the dvd. It won several awards, I believe, in one of the San Fransisco film festivals, and I expect is the first of many great films by Milford Thomas. He is a director with a natural talent for both creative film-making and strikingly touching visual storytelling.