Lynn Shelton's 'Sword of Trust' Is Hilarious & Emotional Thanks To Marc Maron & The Great Cast [SXSW Review]

As will surprise no one who has seen a film directed by Lynn Shelton (“Laggies,” “Your Sister’s Sister“), empathy lies at the core of “Sword of Trust.” But after the seriousness of her last feature, “Outside In,” Shelton turns back to comedy with this shaggy, often hilarious, indie starring Marc Maron, Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins, and Jon Bass as characters Shelton clearly cares about but doesn’t mind us laughing at.

After the death of her grandfather, Cynthia (Bell) returns to her Alabama hometown, where she imagines that she and her partner, Mary (Watkins) will inherit his house. However, all she gets from her beloved grandpa is a Civil War-era sword, as well as a letter describing its provenance and importance to those who haven’t gotten over the (ahem) “War of Northern Aggression.” She takes the antique to local pawn shop owner Mel (Maron), and they catch the attention of several parties who want it for more than just its vintage value, setting off a string of events that are somehow both madcap and relaxed.

Though improvised by its actors, “Sword of Truth” doesn’t signal that it’s working without a full script. Thanks to these stars, Shelton, and “GLOW” editor Tyler L. Cook, the final result feels loose but not entirely aimless. It’s fun and funny, and we’re not sure entirely where it’s going, but we trust that Shelton and her co-writer, “Saturday Night Live” alum Mike O’Brien, do and will get us there intact. There are some tonal shifts that feel a bit abrupt, but they also feel generally natural; revelations about characters’ past pain arrive unexpectedly, but it’s not fully out of the realm of where conversation would take these people.

While the dialogue occasionally turns serious, it’s the laugh-out-loud funny moments that set “Sword of Truth” apart from the average small comedy that ekes out chuckles from its audience. Maron’s dry sense of humor is a particularly good fit for the director, who herself has never been about the big, raucous jokes. The actor-director combination has previously worked together on episodes of “Maron” and “GLOW,” as well as his 2017 stand-up special “Too Real.” His sad Scottish terrier air and her low-key approach to comedy are a perfect match that yields enjoyable results here, especially when surrounded by the talents of Watkins, Bell, and Bass. The latter of which plays Mel’s employee who’s more engaged by conspiracy videos on YouTube than the customers who enter the pawn shop’s doors. Toby Huss and Dan Bakkedahl do solid supporting work on the comedic side, while Shelton herself appears in a small role that adds a bit of pathos to the film.

“Sword of Truth” is full of seemingly effortless charms and quirks, but Shelton keeps it from overloading into full-on twee. This is a small film in every way: one that sometimes lacks precision, but its casual feel really works within its world and among its characters. Human moments punctuate and overlap with the sillier ones, giving “Sword of Truth” a sense of generosity and an emotional core in addition to its laughs. [B]

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