The Allegory
An indie Romantic comedy where faith, art, and
unrequited love collide.
The company rebels against their director over
their pay. (Rough cut)
In the NEWS
America Magazine published an article from writer/executive producer Joe Hoover, S.J., about the process of making The Allegory! Check it out here!
Alexander Roberts as "Francis"
Raye Levine Spielberg as "Gertie"
Marcia DeBonis as "Lynn"
Richard Kind as
"Gertie's father"
Cleopatra Boudreau as "Judy"
Sahra Mellesse as "Sean"
Melanie Brook as "Petey"
Ted Koch as
"Josef"
Joe Hoover
as "Duffell"
Manoli Ioannidis as "Mick"
THE STORY
Francis enlists his theater company
in producing a Christian play to win over his childhood crush Gertrude, a devout Catholic. Things take a turn when the company receives funding from a troubled stranger, with one condition: that the play remain free of religion. What starts as a romantic comedy becomes a meditation on grief and healing and finding a place to call home.
Ted Koch as the play's backer "Josef", and Melanie Brook as the seminarian "Petey" backstage at the Burgdorf Theatre, Maplewood, NJ
THE Production TEAM
Dan and Maureen Connolly
Executive Producers
The film journey
As a Jesuit writer, editor and performer, it has been my work the past twenty-two years to tell stories that explore the pursuit of God in today's world. Stories that, in one sense or another, all ask the question: can you really keep Christ out of anything?
In the summer of 2022, I began writing "The Allegory," a film which, in its own, screwball way, engages that same question. Since then, the production of the film has been a grassroots artistic initiative supported by Catholics, Christians and anyone willing to support creative, new inroads to engaging faith. (Or, simply engaging a delightful, screwball romantic comedy.)
Throughout January and early February we shot nearly the entire film. Richard Kind then joined our time for the final uncast role as the father of our romantic hero Gertie. We shot their scenes on July 22 and the shooting is done! Our director Deniz Demirer is doing double duty working in the editing bay right now.
You are welcome to join us as we put out in the world film that reveals the joys and heartaches, contradictions and complications of searching for God--and true love--in today's world.
Feel free to reach out if you would like to be part of this promoting, funding and distributing this new work. We are grateful for your support. Thank you!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Joe Hoover, SJ