We’ve all made a mistake or two in our lives that is on a constant loop in our minds—a wrong we would do anything to right and that is the idea that makes Matthew Bonifacio’s “The Quitter†a deeply personal tale that is unravels like a tightly wrapped gift on Christmas morning.
The independent and directed by and starring Bonifacio at first seems as a run of the mill story of a man who did not quite live up to his potential of becoming a professional baseball player, however, when he finds out his ex-girlfriend and daughter who he let go have moved back into town, the story quickly shifts into one of redemption and parent-child relationships.
“The Quitter†starts off as Jonathan (Bonifacio) working at a Batting Cage in Brooklyn being hard on one of his students, the mark of a man who was within inches of his dream. Jonathan goes through life on autopilot—that is until while on his morning run he encounters Georgie (Julianna Bonifacio) and her daughter Luka (Destiny Monet Cruz).
It does not take long for it to be revealed that Jonathan is the father of Luka. Georgie had moved away while pregnant with Luka during the height of Jonathan’s professional baseball aspirations and is back in New York because of hard times. Jonathan, clearly is affected by this encounter and feels the need to be in Luka’s life. Georgie is not Jonathan’s biggest fan, but she gives him a chance to be a father on her terms. Luka will only know him as an old friend and he gets three chances or three strikes, he strikes out and it’s game over for his aspirations of being a good father.
“The Quitter†has the intimacy of a short packed into a feature. Matthew Bonifacio works off a script by Bill Gullo that digs deep into the life of a man who has quit all his life, but now is ready to follow through for his daughter. What really makes “The Quitter†so refreshing is the character of Georgie played by Matthew Bonifacio’s wife Julianna. “The Quitter†is not just a story about Jonathan it is one about Georgie.
Jonathan is not the only one who had dreams and aspirations—Georgie was once a ballerina and had to put that aside to raise Luka. Their stories are parallel and that’s the heart that beats for “The Quitter.†Georgie’s story rings true with many single mothers out there who sacrifice self-gratification for their kids. A scene showing Georgie in front of a ballet bar, although without dialogue, speaks volumes about her journey and that of a lot of single mothers.
Destiny Monet Cruz shines as Luka in key scenes that display how hard it is for children when their parents are not on the best of terms.
Where the film lacks in budget it makes up for in its portrayal of people making up for mistakes made in their past. Anyone can find a theme or character they can latch on to and that’s what drives the film. Real people, real themes, that is the love mark “The Quitter†will leave on viewers.
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