Pap, a former championship boxer, has become a cynic and a recluse after the death of his wife. Years later, his estranged granddaughter Jesse attempts to make a documentary about him. Conflict erupts as the two are unable to see eye to eye. Through the power of art, the two must pull each other out of the depths of their despair, or fall into deeper suffering.

Director Jahanshah Vafaeisefat's intriguing drama ‘The Painter’ delves into some complex family dynamics with a raw approach. It’s a solid story that takes its time and allows for some great performances.

What first stood out was the casting of Raymond J. Barry (Born on the Fourth of July, Training Day, Dead Man Walking) to play Pap. Barry adds a real sense of realism and believability to the role with ease and was an inspired choice. Playing opposite him we have Jesse Ridenour as Jesse, who holds her own and injects a real spark to the film. Ridenour creates an authentic connection with her onscreen Grandfather that feels genuine and familiar. Their scenes together flow seamlessly and both handle the script incredibly well.

The production quality is worth noting, it shows good attention to detail from director of photography Aakash Raj. Considering the simple location layout, a lot was done with the lighting to give it a more unique and dramatic look. The 4:3 aspect ratio seems a popular style right now and has its merits. As the film only features a small cast and single location, it doesn’t seem logical to keep the standard widescreen for the sake of it, so in this case it was a good choice.

More time could have been spent on the sound design as it felt somewhat bare at times and could have been developed further to add more depth to the film. The music choice was subtle, tasteful and didn’t overplay the visuals. It was an interesting choice to use classical pieces here rather than a bespoke score, but few would notice. It worked and added a contemporary sound to the story that felt appropriate.

Overall 'The Painter’ is a compelling drama with a lot of emotion and solid performances. We only wish there was more of it to delve deeper into the backstory and the relationship between Jessie and Pap. More scenes of them slowly bonding could have been a great way to rebuild their relationship over more time and bring Pap out of his depression for the finale. Regardless of that, we expect audiences will enjoy this well directed and tasteful drama…

— APEX Film Awards