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Grief Leads to Art in “Adrianne & the Castle”

Written by: Patrick Howard | October 23rd, 2024

Adrianne & the Castle (Shannon Walsh, 2024) 5 out of 5 stars

Adrianne Blue Wakefield St. George, the self-proclaimed Midwestern artist of glitz and glam, is the subject of Shannon Walsh’s documentary Adrianne & the Castle. Adrianne was not only a muse to herself, but also to her husband, Alan St. George. Now, nearly two decades after Adrianne’s death, Alan is the caretaker of her story, preserving her extensive journals and the home videos he shot of her.

However, the real peak of Adrianne’s legacy is Havencrest Castle, which Alan transformed from an unassuming Midwestern home into a fantastical structure straight out of a fairy tale. The ornately decorated rooms tell you everything you would not know about Adrianne and how Alan viewed her in the sparkling light of fairy dust. It’s the kind of story that never feels dated; a tale that is vital for every generation living through whichever decade.

Still from ADRIANNE & THE CASTLE ©Intuitive Pictures

Walsh takes a collaborative approach, casting actors to reenact pivotal moments from Alan and Adrianne’s shared past, including musical numbers to honor Adrianne’s penchant for performance. This technique perfectly captures this couple’s unique eccentricities. While the film offers glimpses into their backstories, many details remain ambiguous. A viewer can only surmise how Walsh’s past experience with grief stained every frame of this film. Ultimately, Adrianne & The Castlewill be remembered as a love story about power conquering over all adversity.

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Patrick Howard has been a cinephile since age seven. Alongside 10 years of experience in film analysis and criticism, he is a staunch supporter of all art forms and believes their influence and legacy over human culture is vital. Mr. Howard takes the time to write his own narrative stories when he can.

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