I saw this film in Vail, (definitely a cool festival by the way) and have found myself increasingly coming back to it in my mind. Ruscio plays chronological constructs brilliantly. "Laura" was reminiscent of Cassevettes work and the great films of the 70's. Ruscio purposefully gaps in the audience's understanding which is very effective in creating tension which are satisfied in lighting bolt bursts of realization.
This is an examination of the very real trouble we can find ourselves in so swiftly as life trundles by, when we refuse to face the truth, or love ourselves at the core...even if it is just enough to see another day, or find another love.
Jonathon Silverman's portrayal of the lover who gets run over by the train of Petra Wright's (Laura) madness is nothing less than an accumulated and focused sum of the skills he had developed in "....". In my mind, he adds an incredible ground wire to the voltage Ms. Wright delivers from beginning to end.
I'd say that Laura Smiles is a definite must see.
