Film festival hit Give or Take can now be taken home

The wonderful, heartfelt film “Give or Take” makes it to VOD this week while it still plays at movie theatres in New York.

One of the best things about a film festival is seeing a movie early. On the other end, sometimes you have to wait months and even years before the movie finds a distributor so it’s hard to sing its praises when no one can go.

Such is the case of “Give or Take.” I saw it two years ago at a few film festivals and I was smitten.  The story of a man who comes home to sort through his deceased father’s house only to find that he is survived by a male partner is something some of us had to deal with in real life.

The two men have several real and emotional battles as technically the “husband,” well played by Tony-winning Norbert Leo Butz, has every reason to be included in decisions about his deceased partner and the house they lived in. But does he have rights…and that is where the drama takes place.
Butz is well-matched by co-star/co-writer Jamie Effros who manages to show compassion while still wanting to do what’s best for his family. The script by Effros and co-writer (and the film’s director) Paul Riccio comes across as very natural and real and showcases a situation that is tough to deal with but most be addressed.

The two creatives also manage to throw in enough humor to lighten the mood just when we need a break from the tension – especially from “Saturday Night Live” alum Cheri Oteri.

I’ve been waiting now years to be able to share this movie with others and now’s our chance. Go to https://www.giveortakemovie.com/ to check out its accolades and where you can order to see it at home, should you not be in New York.