No. 3, "Purple Violets"

I consider myself to be rather knowledgeable in the area of cinema.  Over the past few years, I have been slowly building my French film collection to which I most recently added "Les Amants Reguliers," a film by Philippe Garrel and starring his son, Louis Garrel, as well as Clothilde Hesme.  I am a great fan of the works of Wes Anderson, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Christophe Honoré, Alfred Hitchcock, and Woody Allen, to name but a few, all of whom have gathered sizable fan-bases and devoted followings-- and rightfully so.


Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that my list of "favorite films" is endless; once I name one, another must be identified:  "The English Patient" is gorgeous; "West Side Story" is a classic; " "It's a Wonderful Life" is a masterpiece; "2 Days in Paris" is hysterical.  I could go on for days naming films that range from box-office triumphs to overlooked treasures and will stop at nothing to prove their cinematic value to anyone who will listen.


"Purple Violets," released in 2007, is a small-budget, independent film written and directed by Edward Burns ("Saving Private Ryan," "Life or Something Like It").  The film was the first feature film to debut on iTunes, skipping the theaters with the intention of appealing to a crowd that has (unfortunately) begun to drift away from the "movie-theater experience."  The film stars Burns alongside Patrick Wilson, Selma Blair, and Debra Messing and centers on these four individuals, all of whom were friends in college.  Since graduating, Patti (Blair) and Kate (Messing) have remained best friends as have Michael (Burns) and (Brian) Wilson, and the story takes off after a chance meeting in a Manhattan restaurant where Patti and Kate are celebrating Kate's birthday.  This serendipitous encounter reveals to Michael that Kate was the love of his life as well as rekindles the relationship between Patti and Brian despite Patti's marriage.  The film follows the four characters and captures the life changes that ensue in a profoundly intimate and graceful way, relying on the sensitivity of the heart to lead the viewer on a journey of personal discovery along with the story's four protagonists.

I recall opening iTunes on the day of the film's release and being greeted by an advertisement for the film, which modestly identified itself with a black typewriter beneath the title, "Purple Violets."  I clicked on the image and found the equally modest cast list; yet, as a fan of all four actors, I was pleased with what I saw and did not hesitate to cough up the $14.99 to purchase the film.  "Purple Violets" is labeled as a romantic-comedy, but I believe it much too poignant and meaningful to be categorized with films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "There's Something About Mary."  There is something so honest and pure about the characters, their desires, and their connections to one another that sets this film apart from the average "date-night" flick.  I recently discovered that "Purple Violets" has been played several times on HBO-- a pleasant surprise, indeed.  I do hope that more people make an effort to see this film.  Sure, it is not "ground-breaking cinema," but any avid "movie-goer" will appreciate the delicate and detailed simplicity of the film and its story.  While it was later released on DVD, I continue to regard this film as an "overlooked treasure," and perhaps you will agree.