Kiss and Cry shown at RF Hall

May 26, 2017 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
There was probably a shortage of dry eyes last Wednesday around Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon East.
Students were shown the new movie Kiss and Cry, make by Hall alumnus Sean Cisterna.
Kiss and Cry is based on the true story of Carley Allison, a promising 18-year-old figure skater and singer who was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer. Cisterna said hers was the second such case ever recorded. It is the story of Carley’s emotional battle with cancer, her relationship with her loving boyfriend, and her inspiring comeback to skating.
“Kiss and cry” is an area next to a rink, where figure skaters go after their performances to wait for their scores.
The film stars Sarah Fisher, who might be better known for her role as Becky Baker on Degrassi for three years. She and Carley were best friends in real life. “It’s a pretty emotional role for her,” Cisterna observed.
Cisterna said the showing at the school was part of the preparations for the school’s annual Relay For Life, which is set to go tomorrow (Friday) evening.
He also said the film has already been shown in a number of places, including Beijing and Dublin. He added people have been taking selfies of themselves crying during the film.
“We’ve got about 100 pages of Twitter comments,” he added.
Carley had lived in North York. She was diagnosed with her illness in 2013, and died two years later.
Fisher said she and Carley knew each other since high school.
She also said the film was released earlier this year, Feb. 4, which is also World Cancer Day, as well as the anniversary of Carley’s diagnosis.
“Carley set the bar so high,” she declared. “She set the bar so high as a human because she’s super human.”
Fisher also refers for Carley in the present tense.
“I know she’s here with me, somehow,” she said. “She still is extraordinary.”