[“Goodbye, Ohio” screens Wednesday April 6th at 9:40 pm as part of the Ohio Shorts 2 program at the Cleveland International Film Festival.]
Review by Bob Ignizio
A young woman (Jessy Leigh) is leaving behind her small Ohio
town (Chagrin Falls) to chase her dream of being a writer in the big Apple.
Before she goes, though, there’s a loose end that needs to be tied up in the
form of her ex-boyfriend (Jesse DeFranco). The two meet for lunch at a diner,
and it isn’t long before trite small talk gives way to the guy trying to
convince his ex-girlfriend not to go.
Co-producer/director Mike Wendt has crafted a solid,
professional looking piece. Co-producer/writer/editor/co-star Jessy Leigh gives
herself a nice spotlight for her acting talents, and her editing is tight and
professional. Her screenplay is a bit too cutesy and on the nose at times, but
it also has the ring of authenticity. Co-star Jesse DeFranco acquits himself
well, too, although his role doesn’t allow him to stand out quite as much. The
end result isn’t exactly what I’d call a “must see”, but it’s a pleasant enough
diversion for its fifteen-minute running time that makes a nice little calling
card for its participants. 2 ½ out of 4 stars.
