Written, Edited & Directed By: Joanna Arnow
Cinematography: Barton Cortright
Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Peter Vack, Parish Bradley, Rushi Birudala
A mosaic-style comedy following the life of a woman as time passes in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job, and quarrelsome Jewish family.
This film feels like a collection of mundane experiences suffered by the main character well, also letting the film is autobiographical as it is written and directed by its lead, and her parents play her parents, and friends fill out the cast.
The film would seem to most like a sad, sad comedy that would feel like it follows in the footsteps of such filmmakers as Woody Allen and Todd Solondz where there might be a kind of sadness about the characters who either seem to be taken advantage of or bring on the bad things that happened to them somewhat punished by society.
Only what’s different is The main character isn’t so much a victim as she seems to welcome it and seems content with her life, relationships, and situations. The film is just trying to show her reactions to the situation, she finds herself in and she comes across as one of the more normal characters as all the other characters come off as rather quirky or disturbed.
The film also tries to present BDSM relationships in a droll way. As a tries to show modern dating with a dry sense of humor. That at times comes across as brutally honest, but with humor.
There’s a film that’s not gonna be for everybody. it might take a while for you to get on its wavelength but once you do, it’s smooth sailing as long as you are digging what you have seen so far.
Watching the film, it almost comes across as a visual journal of our lead character. Where she doesn’t try to sugarcoat or make anyone including herself look good it’s presented matter-of-factly, even allowing herself to be for half of the film.
For some the film or the situations as depressing and almost like a form of degradation. Which, for most, it might be, but here it actually shows the characters enjoying themselves for the most part.
Think Lena Dunham and her early films and even girls only with no real group of friends so that the main focus is on her and some odd supporting characters. As the tone goes from absurd to reality.
The film might throw some people off at first you just have to get into it sensibilities as it does showcase as sensitive charm many times and it’s style and tone.
It definitely shows a singular vision where the first half of the film is more random and the second half seems to get more into a plot, whereas the first half of the film is more showing her day-to-day life and seeing various people other than a recurring boyfriend like character, the second half focuses More on her, trying to maintain a relationship with a new guy who’s not used to her form where it feels like the film has shown enough of her background at that point so that we see the character and trust her alone and not reacting off of a series of familiar characters so the second half is kind of like seeing a normal character interact with her and how they react
This film really shocked me at how enjoyable it was and how much one could get into the film with just the nitty-gritty and didn’t need so much dressing or packaging around it is definitely to try and watch. In the end won’t say it’s necessarily rewarding but as a film fan her artistry while semi-autobiographical it’s also admirable.
One can’t wait to see more films and art by her.
Grade: A
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