After appearing in two of Hal Hartley's unique indie films, Adrienne Shelly became the talk of the town in L. A. But it would turn out that she had much greater ambitions to make her own movies centered around women's experiences in life. Somehow, years later and against all odds, she would get funding to make a movie titled "Waitress," starring Keri Russell in the lead title role, along with Cheryl Hines and Shelly as her two best friends and coworkers. The movie that Ms. Shelly wrote and directed would be very well received at the next Sundance Film Festival. But then a most unexpected and UNTHINKABLE tragedy occurred before its debut: the talented (and much beloved by her family and friends) Ms. Shelley was murdered at her NYC office on Nov. 1, 2006. About 13 years later, her devoted husband Andy Ostroy, set out to make his own film about her, in part to help him deal with his many unresolved feelings about what happened but more so for the sake of his and Adrienne's now teen-aged daughter, Sophie, a mere infant back when her doting mother had been slain. It is one of the most moving documentaries I've ever seen, and not just because nobody has an unkind word to say about Ms. Shelly. It's because we get to see what sort of indelible marks that a woman, sister, artist, mother and wife can leave across the lives of so many people lucky enough to have met, known and loved her. It's a 10/10.
