Main Cast: Benjamin P. Garman, Dick Arnold, Mara Hansen, Patrick Chu, Kevin Huber, Brynne Garman
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Plot
A typical teenager is thrown into unusual circumstances by a dangerous disease in this independent drama. Jason (Benjamin P. Garman) is a high school junior living in the Seattle suburb of Ballard. Jason is a seemingly ordinary kid with a cute girlfriend, Kate (Mara Hansen), and dreams of becoming a professional photographer. But when Jason's persistent stomach cramps become increasingly severe, he's taken to the hospital, where he learns he's contracted a rare form of cancer that may leave him with only a few months to live. As Jason struggles with the notion of his own immortality, his paternal grandfather, William (Dick Arnold), arrives for a visit. William and Jason's father, Peter (Kevin Huber), haven't spoken in years, and William's desire to get to know his grandson before it's too late isn't welcomed warmly by either father or son. But William does have a skill he can pass along to Jason -- he's a gifted magician, and as he teaches Jason his secrets, the teenager gains a talent he can use to help ease the minds of the other youngsters in the cancer ward. However, Jason's part-time job as a magician doesn't help him deal with his feelings for Kate, or his reluctance to tell her the truth about his condition. Living Life was the first feature film from 19-year-old filmmaker Jesse Harris; an aspiring director since the age of eight, Harris used his college fund to finance the production of the project. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
