A Civil War widow and her son connect families with the departed.


THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE is used with permission from Gary Gasse. Learn more at https://visibleandinvisiblefilm.com.


After the turmoil of the Civil War, grieving families seek a spiritual connection to the loved ones who have died. Certain clairvoyants claim to ability to contact and then photograph the dead. Alma and her young son Edward offer such services, drawing considerable crowds to Alma's studio.

In truth, Alma uses her acting abilities and some tricks of the photographic medium to convince her paying audiences, and Edward plays a role as part of the performance. But soon their work catches up to them in an unexpected way, as Edward becomes convinced he can see the spirits they've claimed to contact.

Directed and written by Gary Gasse, this short supernatural mystery combines an uncanny atmosphere, intriguing storytelling and beautifully evocative visuals to conjure a transfixing tale of history, ghosts and a unique mother-son relationship. Opening with an almost wordless scene of a young woman being photographed with the spirit of her dead husband, she's guided by an otherworldly young boy, who directs her to hold still for the photo.

Later we see how the young boy, Edward, is coached and directed by his mother. Alma and her son have a close, almost conspiratorial relationship, and while there is considerable love between them, the not-quite savory living begins to affect the impressionable young boy, a danger that the narrative explores to satisfying effect.

Beyond its considerable craftsmanship, much of the story's intrigue comes from its historical setting, capturing a unique period of time. The U.S. has just endured considerable trauma and upheaval in the Civil War and spiritualism is also on the rise. The confluence of the two has led grieving families and lovers to crave communication with their deceased loved ones, a situation that Alma takes advantage of to make a living as a single mother. The film devotes some time to capturing the "behind-the-scenes" work that her deception requires, as well as examining Edward's role in the "spirit game."

Beyond the fascination of the detail and setting, the truly compelling element comes from the characters. Actor Rebecca Leigh Brown plays Alma as a loving, clever and practical mother, brisk in going about the business of providing for her and her son. Young performer Hudson Barry is utterly compelling and natural as a slightly haunted young boy, and the film becomes more suspenseful when Edward begins seeing and sensing the presence of the dead. When Edward's ghost makes its presence known, it changes their sense of the world irrevocably -- and perhaps serves as a warning to not exploit the grief of others, or play games with the spirit world.