Bleeding Heart (film) explained

Bleeding Heart
Director:Diane Bell
Producer:Jonathan Schwartz
Andrea Sperling
Greg Ammon
Starring:Jessica Biel
Zosia Mamet
Joe Anderson
Edi Gathegi
Kate Burton
Harry Hamlin
Music:Liam Howe
Cinematography:Zak Mulligan
Editing:John-Michael Powell
Studio:Super Crispy Entertainment
Fido Features
Runtime:87 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Distributor:Gravitas Ventures

Bleeding Heart (originally titled Shiva & May) is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Diane Bell and starring Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet, Joe Anderson and Edi Gathegi. The film was produced by Jonathan Schwartz, Andrea Sperling, and Greg Ammon.

Plot

May, a yoga instructor (Biel) makes contact with her younger half-sister Shiva (Mamet); the two share a mother, Susan, but were born ten years apart, with their mother giving May up for adoption to a rich family while Shiva bounced around foster homes. Despite their glaringly different backgrounds, the two bond quickly, although May is soon uncomfortable about Shiva's boyfriend Cody (Anderson). Dex, May's boyfriend and partner in their yoga school, is uncomfortable around Shiva when he learns about her true history, but May refuses to leave her sister, particularly when she finds that Shiva returned a thousand dollars that May had given her to pay for rent.

Cast

Production

On October 1, 2013, Diane Bell started casting for her new film. On October 7, Jessica Biel and Zosia Mamet were officially cast as long-lost sisters along with Kate Burton and Joe Anderson and it began shooting the same day.[1] Edi Gathegi was cast a week later.[2]

Filming

Filming started in Los Angeles in October 2013.

Release

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16, 2015.[3]

Reception

Critical response

According to critic aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a critic score of 43%. Frank Scheck of Hollywood Reporter wrote; "Despite its non-exploitative approach to its subject, the film... is too schematic and obvious to have the desired impact. Content collapsed. Biel turns in a fine performance as the unlikely violent hero, but Mamet excels in a role far different than her Shoshanna on HBO's Girls."[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Sneider. Jeff. Jessica Biel, 'Girls' Star Zosia Mamet Set for Super Crispy's 'Shiva & May' (Exclusive). 22 October 2013. The Wrap. 7 October 2013.
  2. News: Obenson. Tambay A.. Casting News: Ruth Negga Joins David Milch's 'The Money; Edi Gathegi In Thriller 'Shiva & May'. 22 October 2013. Indiewire. October 10, 2013.
  3. Web site: 'Bleeding Heart': Tribeca Review . The Hollywood Reporter . 2015-04-17 . 2015-05-09.
  4. Web site: Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews. August 8, 2024.