Lone Star International Film Festival 2008

Tom Quinn blends fact and fiction to tell his deeply personal tale of two teenagers struggling to make sense of their complicated family life after their mother and father separate. Sixteen year-old Kat refuses to accept the split or talk about it isolating her from both family and friends as she sinks deeper into denial. Her brother Jack finds himself in the difficult position of mediating between mom and dad while keeping track of their finances as their mom avoids confrontation and their dad focuses on leading his band to victory in Philadelphia’s annual Mummer’s Parade. A band member himself, Jack questions his loyalty as his parents’ actions strain his relationships. The New-Year Parade’s unique approach mixes actors and non-actors, documentary footage and fiction, to look at how divorce can affect young people.