''Gerald'' is a 2010 American comedy-drama film written, produced and edited by Tim Gallagher, directed by Marc Clebanoff (director of ''

Break Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to: Time off from duties * Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties * Break (work), time off during a shift/recess ** Coffee break, a short mid-morning res ...

''), and stars

Louis Mandylor Louis Mandylor (born Elias Theodosopoulos; 13 September 1966) is an Australian film and television actor. Mandylor played Nick Portokalos in ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' (2002), a role he reprised in the sequel '' My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2'' ( ...

and Mackenzie Firgens with Deborah Theaker and Mickey Rooney. The main character, Gerald, was inspired by '' Forrest Gump'', Seymour Krelborn of '' Little Shop of Horrors'' and Mr. Gallagher's personal experience with mentally challenged individuals. ''Gerald'' was filmed around Los Angeles, CA in 2008. The film premiered at the

Chinese American Film Festival Chinese American Film Festival (CAFF) is an American film festival held every November since 2006 in California (with events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, previously also in San Diego). History In 2005, the Chinese American Film Festival w ...

and has screened at the Down Beach Film Festival, Castle Rock Film Festival, the Sacramento Film Festival and Indie Spirit Film Festival, winning several awards including best actor for

. The role of Gerald, a mentally challenged individual, was a departure from

's earlier tough guys roles, but it is also an endearing addition to his indie film roles, such as Nick Portokalos in ''

My Big Fat Greek Wedding ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos, who also stars in the film as Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos, a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with White Anglo-Sax ...

''.

Plot

Gerald Andrews was dropped on his head at birth. 30 years later, the man-child Gerald works at the local bowling alley and lives with his mother in a mobile home park. When his mother suddenly dies, he finds himself still needing her close, and has her ashes placed inside her favorite ceramic doll, which he carries with him everywhere. With the help of his mother's eclectic friends, Gerald is coping, until the day the valuable doll is stolen. Gerald desperately searches for his mother's ashes. When Gerald finally finds the thief, he enlists the help of his friend, Helen, to steal the doll back. During the heist, things go awry when Helen is taken hostage. Gerald must decide between his mother's ashes or Helen's life.

Cast

as Gerald * Mackenzie Firgens as Helen * Luca Palanca as Lemtat's son * Beau Puckett as Dolly *

Tara Karsian Tara Karsian (born August 5, 1965) is an American actress and writer. She is the daughter of actress Pat Carroll. Life and career Karsian is the daughter of actress Pat Carroll and Lee Karsian, and the sister of casting director Kerry Karsian. Sh ...

as Ethel * Wylie Small as Kate * Deborah Theaker as Mother * Mickey Rooney as the Doctor *

Mark Damon Espinoza Mark Damon Espinoza is an American actor currently starring in the NBC series ''The Endgame''. His first starring role was " Jesse Vasquez" in the TV series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' from 1993 to 1995. His other credits include stage, television, ...

as the Cop * Tim Gallagher as the Lawyer

Accolades

* Golden Angel Award -

* Best Actor for

- Down Beach Film Festival * Best Actor for

- Sacramento International Film Festival * Best Supporting Actress nomination for Deborah Theaker (Samantha Andrews a.k.a. Mother) - Down Beach Film Festival * Best Supporting Actress nomination for Mackenzie Firgens (Helen) - Down Beach Film Festival * Best Director for Marc Clebanoff - Down Beach Film Festival * Best Screenplay for Tim Gallagher - Down Beach Film Festival * Special Presentation - Castle Rock Film Festival

Distribution

Besides film festival screenings, ''Gerald'' was screened in several theaters in Colorado. U.S. distribution is through Gerald, the Movie, LLC which has made ''Gerald'' available as DVD and digital downloads from.Amazon
/ref> Australia territory was sold in 2010.

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, 1213900, Gerald

American comedy-drama films 2010 films 2010 comedy-drama films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films