LIFE DURING WARTIME (2009)

Written & Directed By: Todd Solodnz 
Cinematography By: Edward Lachman 
Editor: Kevin Messman 

 Cast: Cirian Hinds, Christopher Marquette, Allison Janney, Shirley Henderson, Paul Ruebens, Michael K.Williams, Ally Sheedy, Renee Taylor, Michael Lerner, Charlotte Rampling, Gaby Hoffman

Separated from her incarcerated husband Bill, Trish is about to be married again. Bill is a pedophile, so Trish couldn't be more excited to have Harvey, a "normal" father figure for her two sons. But when Bill is released from prison and the boys finally meet their future step-dad, the family is forced to decide whether to forgive or to forget. Trish's sister, the virginal, angelic Joy, is also haunted by ghosts of lovers past. On leave from her degenerate husband, Allen, and her job at a New Jersey correctional facility, Joy unwittingly leaves behind a trail of shame and exposed secrets wherever she goes. In one of the film's most stylized sequences, the image of Joy walking the dark streets of Miami in her nightgown maintains her innocence against a backdrop of self-affliction and desire.

A sequel to Todd Solondz 's movie HAPPINESS, but with entirely re-cast characters.

Title taken from the title of a song by Talking Heads.

I really looked forward to this film as Todd Solodnz is one of my favorite filmmakers. His ability to make bleak depressing films, but still fill them with humor. Very dark humor bit still he shows he is a true artist by usually taking on controversial subjects and shows no worry or fear of being politically correct as he shows the horror bit also the humor of the subjects and situations. Though some might find it distasteful it allows him to show his vision and commentary on it usually without making a preference.

His films at times around the same subjects, such as suburbia. In this film he takes the Characters from his previous film HAPPINESS and 2 from his film WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and not only recasts almost all except one as a way of showing the characters rebirth, but we also get to see how some of them have moved on since then. While showing different actors interpretation of the same roles. Making the film a totally original Sequel.

Again another thing I admire about Todd Solodnz is that he is truly a independent filmmaker who is not afraid to experiment in fact he seems to enjoy the opportunity. I have waited 2 years to finally see the film and while I find the film disappointing . I find plenty to admire about the film. I enjoyed catching up with the characters . I can't complain about the new actors portrayal of the same characters.

The only story-line I found compelling though was Cirian Hinds portrayal of Bill, the pedophile father. He brings a lot of weight and a haunting host like quality to his character who has lost everything and wants to make peace with his family. I felt all of his scenes were dynamite. The rest of the film And characters while Interesting didn't find myself as invested as was intended. They seem an empty pale comparison especially considering they aren't as deeply dramatic as the Hinds story-line.

There isn't much dialogue in many scenes that are filled with emotion and foreboding. But one thing that bothered me is the treatment of Joy. Her character is the same doormat she always was and the one time she finally does what is not expected of her. It leads to tragedy also at times what I feel is shock tactics of using child actors to say the most awful things as a means to provoke the audience by having some cute poster child say it. I don't know if it is intentional but it happens quite a bit. I realize that children are prone to do this as they don't necessarily know right from wrong. It usually comes down to how open parent are with them.

Solodnz has a tendency to have us care about a character then drop them and explain them away. Like an afterthought. I don't know if he does it unintentionally or intentionally to show the character so much a outsider that after a certain point none of the other characters care.

The other problem I had with this film is that instead of being riveted. I was bored quite a few times. Which has never happened with his previous films. Now for all my problems with the film, I found myself admiring he film to a certain degree. It has certainly stayed with me after watching it. Filmed in Puerto Rico made to look like Florida.

The opening scene is almost a shot for shot remake of the opening Scene of happiness only with different actors and a different outcome.

The film is on criterion disc. Which I can understand as it is a more polished effort then happiness or any of his other films, but I feel happiness deserves to be on criterion more as it is a better made more vibrant film. That is special in it's unpolished quality and controversial subject matter that is more faced head on. Here the film is polished and maybe the fact of it's originality in being a sequel that breaks so many rules while keeping a main theme of forgiveness is what qualifies it.

 Grade: C