A Halloween Party in 2006, ‘I went to bed that night as the luckiest guy alive. By the next night, I was living the worst nightmare imaginable”…that was the harrowing entry of Andy Ostroy’s life, which was shattered into a thousand pieces of smashing mirror that left on the floor, when he saw his wife Adrienne Shelly was hanging in the bathtub. Later investigation shocked the film industry, a petite actress-turned-director was killed by a construction worker who murdered in her office for money. All that was left were his recollections of the shining moments with his wife, pain that still lingering in his heart.

When I was a teenager, I had a dream of coming to the U.S one day. My eyes were set on indie scenes in New York, the auteurs like Jim Jarmusch, Tom DiCillo and Hal Hartley.

Shelley was a New York- born actress, who was quickly discovered by a visionary director Hal Harley and from the late ‘80s through the early ’90s, she appeared in films such as “Trust” and “The Unbelievable Truth.” Shelley was an indie goddess descended from heaven. The celluloid loves every inch of this angelic and energetic woman was amplified and we see how she put a magic spell on audiences. Through Ostroy’s documentary, I was taken on a cathartic journey of Shelly who was admired and loved by her peers and families. 

Shelley established herself through the independent film world as an “It-Girl,” mid ‘90s Hollywood then came knocking. Sadly she got swallowed up by greedy Tinseltown moguls  who typecast because of her looks as the dumb bombshell. While she flexed her own artistic muscle as a writer, expressing her own voice in her short films, Shelley slowly segued into a behind-the-camera career, pushing Hollywood stardom aside. 

After taking a stab at directing her first film, “I’ll Take You There,” she then wrote “Waitress” giving voice to an American woman who was in an abusive relationship which became more complicated by an unexpected pregnancy. 

Through a daring script, which had captivated a rising star actress Keri Russell who immersed herself into a complex character and she was surrounded by the best supporting players like, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, and Nathan Fillion. Shelley’s impressive concept made a significant mark on the tastemakers at the Sundance Film Festival and in Hollywood. Yet because her life was cut short, she has never witnessed her triumphant moment. The world embraced her sensitivity, and was able to bite from her tasty pie of a film which was set at the table for anyone who craved her artistic mindset. 

Ostroy’s documentary also shed light on Broadway where her film was turned into a hit musical. The show highlighted a talented group of women such as Tony-nominated performer Jessie Mueller and Keala Settle who displayed an amazing voice in “The Greatest Showman.” It also showcased Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles who captured the essence of Adrienne’s voice through the lyrics and score she wrote for the theatrical version.

The documentary includes candid conversations with her family. It also displays Adrienne’s beautiful eyes which have been passed down to her daughter Sophie who’s now 17 years old.

It also has clips from an abandoned documentary addressing the theme of happiness which is both engaging and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s really remarkable how much footage of Shelly is included here, making it all the more poignant in knowing of her loss.

Adrienne’s voice still resonates to this day, since her husband and the film’s director Ostroy has established the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, which awards scholarships, production grants, finishing funds, and living stipends to artists. In her honor, the Women film Critic Circle gives out an annual Adrienne Shelly Award to films that “most passionately opposes violence against women.”

Here’s the trailer of the film.