A homeless wanderer, named Solar Flare, proclaims to be a real superhero from the Sun who’s been exiled to live on Earth without his superpowers for 189 days. From the personal discovery of why he was sent here (to save this planet from an apocalyptic solar flare), to the array of bizarre characters that misguide him, we follow the lost ‘superhero’ on what quickly becomes a downward spiral journey into the underbelly of Hollywood…a place he comes to realize is not worth saving.

The other night I had an opportunity to see a new indie feature film called Once Upon a Superhero at The Frida Cinema in downtown Santa Ana.   I was aware that the story involved a superhero named Solar Flare who had been banished to Earth for 189 days without his powers, and that was it.  I had no idea that this story was much more exploring the darkness of Hollywood and how it can break someone down.  When we meet Solar Flare, he is at the end of his 189 day banishment to Earth.  He is hopeful that he is going to be able to go back to the Sun, which is his home.  This is where he gets his power from and currently he has none.  He meets a girl named Frankie after she comes to his rescue finding him having been knocked down to the ground by a ladder.  She is interested in who he is, and offers to buy him food and tell his story.   They go to a diner and thus he begins to tell her about his adventures the last 189 days here on Earth.

There is a lot of visual storytelling in this film, even when there is dialogue.  The way that colors and distortion are used gives the film a gritty feeling at times, which is perfect in aspects of the story being told. The use of music sets a good tone and provides an anticipation of what will happen next in the scene.  Editing is always my favorite part of a film, and this one does it right with use of split screens and swipes.  And there is even an animated part of the film which makes it feel like I am watching a graphic novel.  Aside from the technical aspects of the film, those casts in the roles were excellent!  Adam Marcinowski who plays Solar Flare does a fantastic job of portraying someone who is new to Earth, but over the course of time becomes just as dismayed and addicted as the humans that inhabit it. Yet never gives up hope that he is going home.  He talks and feels like a superhero. And Yvette Monreal who plays Frankie is enjoyable to watch as she listens to this wild story, and not once judges or doubts what she is being told.

With the screening we were treated to a Q&A sessions with Marcinowski along with the film’s director, John M. Kline and executive producer Scott M. Weil.  We learned that this film took about 6 years to make and was/is a true indie film with a grass roots approach of getting it out in front of audiences. I would encourage you to seek this film out along with following on social media.