The Dust Factory

Infobox Film
name = The Dust Factory


image_size =
caption = "The Dust Factory" DVD cover.
director = Eric Small
producer =Tani Cohen
writer = Eric Small
starring = Armin Mueller-Stahl
Hayden Panettiere
Ryan Kelley
cinematography =
editing =
distributor =
released = 2004
runtime = 99 min.
country = U.S.
language = English
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0329030

"The Dust Factory" is a 2004 film directed and written by Eric Small.

Plot

All the characters hold small but pivotal roles throughout the story. Protagonist Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley) is a young boy who, being traumatized by the death of his father, has not spoken aloud or exercised his imagination since this demise. While on an excursion with a friend, Ryan falls from a bridge into water and drowns, waking in a parallel universe called the "Dust Factory", which houses all humans who are imminent to die but have yet to complete death. This quantity of people is often implied to be very small, while the Dust Factory's topography is immense, encompassing lakes, forests, mountains, and a wide field covered by dry grass. In the midst of this field, which is implied to be the center of the Dust Factory, is a circus pavilion whose Ringmaster is hinted to be a figure of some authority and becomes almost an antagonist. Each person dwelling in the Dust Factory must enter this circus and make a leap (a literal 'leap of faith') across the arena into the arms of the trapeze artist so as to decide between proceeding into the world of death or returning to life. The latter decision occurs when a participant falls into the arena during the leap, leaving behind a pile of dust which marks the passage, gives the realm its name, and when disturbed allows the one doing so to enter a hidden chamber where they play ice hockey against the Ringmaster. In the Factory, Ryan regains his voice and is reunited with his grandfather (Armin Mueller-Stahl), whose Alzheimer's disease has (in his 'real' life) hitherto prevented him from communicating with his descendants. The grandfather, who is apparently learned in the ways of the Dust Factory and appears to be a master of its laws, which differ in some ways from those of the ordinary world, becomes an advisor and storyteller. The stories he tells, though given in a context that implies them to be parables, seem to convey no obvious meaning, but acquire a great deal of significance in Ryan's mind. The theme of belief/hope "versus" cynicism or despair surfaces in relation to one of these.

Throughout the main body of the plot, Ryan spends a single endless day exploring the Dust Factory under weather conditions that are always favorable to wandering through the environments and marveling at natural beauty. He is guided by his grandfather and accompanied by a girl of his own age called Melanie Lewis (Hayden Panettiere), who has been in the Dust Factory for years, lacks any memory of her previous life, and lives under the delusion that the climate is of perpetual winter, despite the appearance to Ryan and the viewer of interminable summer. Melanie and Ryan, under the eye of Ryan's grandfather, become intimate friends. Their time is passed in an emotional atmosphere of joy and discovery, mitigated only by the influence of the mysterious Ringmaster, who interferes several times with their activity, and by Melanie's conflict with Ryan's grandfather, who wishes Ryan to "make the leap" across the arena and thereby contradicts Melanie's desire that all things remain "in status quo" forever. Matters gradually reach a climax, whereinafter Ryan's grandfather "makes the leap" and is sent into death. Subsequent to this, Ryan defies Melanie and makes the leap himself, but falls into the pile of dust and is sent back to life. Melanie thereafter defies her own delusions of winter and takes the same course of action.

Having been sent into life, Ryan resurfaces from beneath the water wherein he drowned and is rescued by his friend. Although his memory of the Dust Factory is apparently defunct, it seems to be present in his subconscious mind, as implied by the facts that he retains his voice, has gained a general feeling of joy in life, and is not surprised or harmed by news of his grandfather's death. This idea is further supported when he encounters Melanie, who has, in her ordinary life recovered from a cerebral aneurism. Although neither child has any conscious memory of the other, they appear to subconsciously recognize each other and assume association on terms similar to those that were theirs in the Dust Factory. This concludes the story.

Cast

*Armin Mueller-Stahl as Grandpa Randolph, Ryan's mentor and (presumably maternal) grandfather.
*Hayden Panettiere as Melanie Lewis, co-protagonist.
*Ryan Kelley as Ryan Flynn, protagonist.
*Kim Myers as Angie Flynn, Ryan's mother.
*George De La Pena as Ringmaster (as George De La Peña), near-antagonist; a figure similar to Jareth of Jim Henson's "Labyrinth".
*Michael Angarano as Rocky Mazzelli, Ryan's friend.
*Peter Horton as Lionel
*Kyle Hansen as Rennie
*Ted Roisum as Trapeze Catcher
*Ayanna Berkshire-Cruse as Hope
*Shuhe as Sorrow
*Robert Blanche as Ryan Flynn Sr., protagonist's father and namesake.

External links

* [http://www.cinema-astoria.com/cinematography/filminglocation/locations/dustfactory/index.html Filming Locations]
*imdb title|id=0329030|title=The Dust Factory