Every once in a while, a movie comes along that touches you so deeply, you never forget it.  This happened in 1995, when writer and director Victor Salva's achingly beautiful drama, Powder, hit theatres.  Sadly, not many people seem to know about this movie.  I hope, after reading this, that you'll want to check it out for yourself.

At the heart of Powder's story is the idea of a common bond between us all.  This is explored in many ways throughout the film, from the most superficial level to the deepest and most difficult to comprehend.  A teenage albino boy named Jeremy (played by Sean Patrick Flannery), but known to all as "Powder," is taken away from his sheltered home life after his grandfather's death.  He is immediately befriended by caseworker, Jessie Caldwell (Mary Steenburgen) and Sherrif Doug Barnum (Lance Henrikson), who notice right away that there is something very special about him.  For one thing, he is a genius, able to recite any page of any book that Jessie might open, but that's not his most remarkable quality.  Powder seems to be able to channel electricity through his body and use it like telekinesis.  At school, he earns the intrigue and respect of his science teacher, Donald Ripley (Jeff Goldblum) who, after touching Powder, finds himself newly infused with youthful vigor.  Even with newfound friends, not all is well is Powder's world.  When he's taken to a home for boys, his extraordinary powers are met with fear and derision from his classmates, especially the ring-leader, John (Bradford Tatum).  He is even taunted by Harley (Brandon Smith), the Sherrif's deputy.  Through it all, Powder keeps a frank sense of acknowledgement of things we rarely think about, and certainly don't take for granted.  Unity, love, happiness, magic.  These are all facts of life in Powder's world, but our world proves not to be ready for such revolutionary innocence.  It all finally erupts into the film's ectrifiying climax.

Salva has truly acheived something astonishing with Powder, both as a writer and a director.  The story and the message behind it are profound and yet very simple: we are all connected; it's fear that keeps us apart.  Not fear of one another, but fear of ourselves.  The subtle direction, remarkable talent and Jerry Goldsmith's sweeping soundtrack combine for a really emotional movie experience.

Flannery is brilliantly believable in the title role.  The childlike optimism of Powder will make you completely forget his role in The Boondock Saints.  And his co-stars give him plenty to work with.  Steenburgen bubbles as a well-meaning and sympathetic friend, while Henrikson and Smith play perfectly as hard-surfaced small-town men.  Truthfully, there isn't a single bad or unbelievable performance in the whole film.  Such casting perfection is a rarity and is really something to see.

I sincerely hope I've done justice to this wonderful movie in this review.  I hope, also, that I've inspired you to go out and find it at your local video store.  If you have a soul, or a heart that beats; if you've ever loved anyone in your entire life; if you just love good acting and film-making, you're bound to be touched by Powder.