Let Me Have My Son

My friend and accomplished international writer-director of many decades, Cristobal Krusen, has just released a very personal and loving film about the mental illness that has entrapped his son, Daniel, for most of his son's life. For years I received Cris' sensitive and insightful newsletters that chronicled the ups and downs of the father and son's struggle with Daniel's schizophrenia.

Many of us encouraged Cris to make a film about the often tragic but always hopeful life he endured. At one point Cris sent me the script for notes. Finally, Cris has done it, with numerous awards and accolades. We loved the film and Cris' artistry in telling a very emotional and difficult story. The film is not a documentary, but a fictional narrative of the very real and often emotional journey of a father searching for his son lost in mental illness.

A delight for those of us who are Cris' fans is that for the first time Cris is both IN FRONT of the camera as well as directing. For most of the film he plays himself as the fictional father of Benny, the fictional Daniel. Great directing and acting, beautifully lensed by Michigan's Richard Brauer of Travelers City.