Memories. Good or bad, they define the history of who we are. But what if your memory is missing - or events you believe were real are not? Could you find the truth, and more importantly, could you handle it? This is the enigma facing one Verid Steele in the indie suspense film by David Giardina TAFFY WAS BORN.

At the train station of a sleepy hamlet, a crowd greets native son Verid Steele, returning from 30-years away from his hometown. Verid settles in his former home, now the residence of his Aunt Min, a local icon for her work with the church and community. She wants Verid to forget his troubled past and start a new life. Verid, it seems, has no clear memories of his childhood. All he knows is when he was seven-years-old, his parents died and he had to leave. Moreover, the years have not been kind to Verid; it's slipped he's spent time in jail, and he takes anti-depressants. Min introduces Verid to Friar Fell, who offers him a job, as well as Bernice, one of her church favorites. Verid also meets wallflower Cecelia, but Min dismisses her as a kook. Min hopes getting Verid involved with her community activities will give him a new beginning. Bernice invites Verid to join her at a "Young Adult" gathering later that week; even though he's uncomfortable with all the religious dogma being thrown at him, Verid agrees. He even accompanies his aunt to church. Trying to remember his past is very frustrating for Verid - bits and pieces keep flashing back, but none of it makes sense! At his aunt's church meeting, Verid becomes even more uncomfortable with their strict religious dogma, and when he speaks his opinion, the group reacts coldly and distant. There's no room for individuality in this town....

Still, Verid tries to adapt to please his aunt. He accepts Friar Fell's job offer to work at the rectory bookstore. First day there, he uncovers a history of the town - and of its secret religious society, the Raefs. When he asks his aunt about the Raefs later, she is reluctant to continue the discussion. This becomes the trend throughout the town; Verid soon finds himself stonewalled by the folk, to the point he is refused a refill on his medication (even the doctor won't see him!) Verid gets increasingly upset about the strictness of the town's religious tenets - he becomes more and more paranoid. The more Verid tries to find out about the town and Raefism, the more he is treated like a pariah. And his memories keep returning in brief glimpses - and none of them good. Is his only hope town outcast Cecilia? What part does the town's religious history play in Verid's memories? And why does this name keep appearing in his mind - who is Taffy?

For an independent film, TAFFY WAS BORN is a cut above the average low-budget movie. The script (written by director Giardina) is an intricate thriller that unfolds for the audience like a good novel. The pace is very deliberate - not slow - as we learn the secrets of the town along with Verid. A big shout-out to actor Scott Mitchell Kelley for his outstanding performance as Verid - he is able to connect with the film viewer, so we feel his ever-increasing frustration and have an emotional stake in his pursuit of the truth. Overall, the entire cast performs with a great depth that makes their characters eminently believable. The film's central conflict - religion vs. individualism - may get a bit heavy at times, but that's the nature of the beast, isn't it?

Production-wise, TAFFY WAS BORN is an excellent example of a film that does all the little things right. There is always enough lighting to see exactly what we need to - whether the shots are inside or on location. Speaking of which, the locales chosen for TAFFY WAS BORN are spot on; from the aging Victorian manse to the veritable church to the sleepy town itself (what character!), the settings reinforce every aspect of the film. Picture quality is above reproach - images are clear and defined, colors are distinctive, and the film shows no 'soft-focus' or 'grainy' shots usual for similar movies with smaller budgets. Audio is well defined and the soundtrack meshes nicely with the visuals. The editing in TAFFY WAS BORN is excellent; the deliberate pace coincides with the script, allowing events to unfold for Verid and the audience simultaneously. MTV generation folk may find the film slow - watch more Hitchcock to understand that suspense doesn't mean an edit every three seconds (unless you're in the shower...). An outstanding effort by Mr. Giardina and his entire cast & crew.

I saw TAFFY WAS BORN on VHS, so there were of course, no extras. However, log onto the official website - www.taffywasborn.com - and you can find cast & crew bios, production credits, stills, links, and more information about the film and its creator. I'm sure these will be included on a DVD release - maybe they'll throw in some behind-the-scenes footage and a director commentary as well - they're always fun to watch and listen to.

TAFFY WAS BORN is a definite recommend to suspense fans; the unhurried pace and involving story are a throwback to the days of film noir and Hitch - the film absorbs the audience with its characters and plot. Who needs an explosion every two minutes? So sit back and get lost in the troubled world of Verid Steele...and you'll discover just who is Taffy?