Tag: girl

Rondo

Posted on by victorfraga

The emblematic French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard once said: “All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl.” After watching Rondo, I no longer think this is true. This is a movie that is faithful to Godard’s maxim, thinking that all it needs to be a success is to have its main protagonist wield a machine gun in her underpants. Godard probably only said that because it sounded controversial and cool. The problem with Rondo is that director Drew Barnhardt took this phrase seriously and actually made a movie turning that quote to life. Lacking anything else in the form of plot, character development, acting ability or dialogue, Rondo’s juvenile construction will only satisfy the most rampant of gun fetishists.

Luke Sorge stars as Paul, a war veteran suffering from PTSD, which he medicates through drugs, drink and endless cigarettes. As a result of his addiction, he has lost his home, his money and even his will to live. He stays with his sister Jill (Brenna Otts), who recommends he sees a therapist. Played with lively charm by Gena Shaw, she is a heavily pregnant woman who recommends him to replace his many addictions with sex, even going so far as to give him a card to a mysterious party. With nothing else to lose, Paul heads over to a high-rise flat where he is quickly given graphic instructions as to what he and two other men can do while having sex with a rich man’s wife – anal sex, violence and spitting are not only allowed, but also encouraged. From there, Barnhardt tells an extremely bloody tale of sex and murder that has little to say and even less to show for it.

It’s hard to say what the movie wants to be about. Without giving Paul any real character traits, we cannot feel that he is an effective conduit for someone suffering for PTSD, even seeming completely bored by the prospect of sex as a means to alleviate his emotional state. His sister fares even worse, given almost no dialogue as a woman hellbent on doing right by her brother. Why she wants to help, we will never know. Ultimately, it’s a movie uninterested in situating its characters in situations with any context, managing to shoot almost entirely in two Denver apartments alone but without creating any memorable dialogue to show for it. At times, some subpar Tarantino-esque gangsters-but-also affectations are put in, but these feel almost weightless, just biding time until the next bloody murder or salacious sexual encounter. The movie exists almost entirely to shock, but there’s nothing shocking when there’s literally no reason to care.

All of these thematic problems may have been forgiven if the movie had been better made, but it suffers from a series of choices that are not only distracting but ultimately become downright annoying. The movie’s biggest issue lies with its soundtrack, which is not only at times literally incongruous with what is on screen, but has a generic, repetitive quality reminiscent of what plays over epic football montage videos on YouTube. In addition, copious voiceover is used, which although initially setting the scene quickly and effectively, becomes obtrusive when filling in for moments when characters could literally just talk to one another.

The best parts lie in the gory special effects and the quick-panning cinematography, which at times suggest what the movie could’ve been if it had been allowed to breathe. Yet even the best qualities are overcooked – such as a climactic bloodbath that seems to never end, and an endlessly moving camera that doesn’t let its characters space to actually act. Coming in at a brisk 85 minutes, these bizarre choices make it feel like a commercial for yet another movie, one where characters really talk to each other for more than 10 seconds and their decisions come with real moral weight. Rondo film has the girl and the gun for sure. But as she shoots that gun, nothing else comes out but empty spectacle.

Rondo premieres as part of Fantasia Film Festival, taking place in Montreal, Canada between July 12th and August 2nd.

Girl

Posted on by victorfraga

This is a remarkable movie for many reasons. First of all, Flemish Director Lucas Dhont was only 26 years old when he finished a film that he first conceived at the age of just 18. The fascination with transgender people is conspicuous nowadays in cinema. Filmmakers want to investigate the saga of transitioning, and how to reconcile it with with the mixed perspective of outsiders. The fluid sexual/gender identity and the intense transformations in both the mind and the body allow for the construction of very interesting characters. There has been no shortage of such films in then past couple of years. But there are still topic areas waiting to be addressed in more detail, and this is exactly what Girl does.

Lara is 16 years old teenager and dreams of becoming a successful ballerina. Her father is a doting taxi driver, and she also has a young brother called Milo and aged just six. The entire family moves town in Belgium so that Lara can get the best education available for a ballerina. Parallel to her studies and ballet classes, Lara is going through the biggest change of her life: a sex reassignment surgery. Lara, who was born a male, is supported by the love and comprehension of her father and brother, the acceptance of her new ballet school and the extremely professional approach and care of her doctors and counsellor. This transphobia-free environment may come across a little alien to a lot of trans people everywhere in the world, who face an uphill struggle against stigma and prejudice. For Lara, the biggest battle is inside her own body. She’s the one who’s not entirely prepared to accept her new skin.

The director opted to work with Victor Polster in the main role, as the result of a genderless casting process. He deserves an award for his immaculate performance. Lara is the most adorable girl you’ll ever meet. You will be captivated by both her inherent sweetness and her visible pain. The fine acting, supported by an effective script, camerawork and direction make it easy to relate to Lara’s problems.

At times, the film become a little didactic as it delves into the fascinating details of a sex change journey. Lara’s body is the temple of all catharses, as the gender dysphoria prevents her from reaching her objectives. For example, her male toes make it very difficult for her to perform some ballet movements, such as standing on the tip of her toes. Lara’s body is her worst enemy – so how can she defeat her biggest nemesis? Stay tuned for a shocking but rewarding end.

Girl showed in the Competition of the 71st Cannes Film Festival, when this piece was originally written. It is out in cinemas across the UK on Friday, March 15th. Also showing at BFI Flare. On VoD Sunday, March 31st.