Reddit reviews Retirement Home

I'm searching for serious criticism to my film, Retirement Home (US & UK). I would be very thankful if you were generous with your time and we could discuss my film here.

I made most of the film by myself: directed, edited, shot and produced it. The soundtrack was done by an incredible musician called Pedro Gaspar. And the sound mix by Branko Neskov (who worked with the best filmmakers from Portugal: Manoel de Oliveira, Pedro Costa, João Canijo...).

I think my film is quite good. I sent it to the Cannes Film Festival and it wasn't accepted by the festival but I received warm compliments from Christian Jeune (if you're familiar with the world of submitting films to festivals you know that's almost a miracle to receive feedback from one), who's one of the most important persons in the team responsible by the selection of the Competition Program. Almost all submitted films go through him in some capacity. There's rumors that he watches at least 5 films a day. He said, and I quote, "Your film was considered but to be frank, we take so few documentaries, even though we thought the film was touching, it was a long shot to be selected.".

I received many almost's after that one from sales houses, some quite reputable, that represented Oscar winners and nominees. But I ended up releasing the film myself.

A few months ago I was talking with this foreign lady that I just met in a restaurant and the subject of my film came up. I said that financially it didn't do very well, but that I'm still very proud of it. I think that it's a film that represents in portuguese cinema the time period when it was shot very well and it's a good portrait of the elders. To which she said that it wasn't its time yet. The way she said it, it felt true to me...

I was influenced by Yasujiro Ozu, DA Pennebaker, Frederick Wiseman, Manoel de Oliveira, António Reis and a few more filmmakers. Because it was a one man team job, there's one thing that I could get as well or even better than almost anyone making documentaries, which was, intimacy. My camera was really close to the elders and they didn't care. They got used to me hanging out with my gear as if I was just one more of the gears that made the retirement home work.

So, I hope I can hear from you. Am I stupid for thinking that my film is any good?

Many thanks in advance.