Common Bonds

Common Bonds is a 1997 independent feature film directed by Antonio Manriquez.^[2][3] The movie's crew was composed of 40 teenagers from all over Los Angeles.^[4] Work on the movie began at Pacoima Middle School and took place over a two-year period.^[4] Film rights were sold to Encore Media and the film was later given a special screening at the Sundance Film Festival.^[4][5]

Common Bonds
Directed by	Antonio Manriquez
Written by	Kate McKinney Antonio Manriquez Aaron Wallace Brendan Wolfe
Produced by	Josh Gray-Emmer Dan Aeberhard Raina Roessle Evelyn Seubert James Gleason III
Starring	Kate McKinney Charles Rome Smith Ike Gingrich
Cinematography	Karen Chow-Del Rio
Edited by	Elizabeth Eiben
Music by	Michael W. Katz
Distributed by	wam!/encore
Release date	February 10, 1997 (1997-02-10)[1]
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Common Bonds tells the story of K.C., a rebellious teenage girl serving time in community service at a senior citizens’ home. Though at first K.C. is distant and defiant, she gradually is pulled into the lives of the seniors. Together with Norman, an irrepressible septuagenarian, she exposes and thwarts a con man who preys on the unsuspecting residents. In the process Norman and K.C.’s lives are changed through their discovery of the common bonds of understanding and support that tie both generations together.^[6]

Cast

• Kate McKinney as K.C.
• Glenn Dickerson as Sheldon
• Polly Hunt as Scooter
• Charles Rome Smith as Norman

Reception

The Daily News of Los Angeles gave a positive review for Common Bonds, saying it "[dazzled] moviegoers" with the film's innovation.^[7]