This is my first attempt to comment on a film in a long time so please bear with me. I have just watched this film and about half way through became inspired to write about it. It causes me to ask what is it that we like or seek to take away from the cinema. Perhaps we, the audience, seeks some kind of response from the work that is either emotional, intellectual, visceral, or educational even. Maybe its none of these elements or all of them together.
For me, this film was inspired in some way, largely that of Acting, but lacked the certainty of its own direction. Where was it going really? It can be said to be real or an exploration of this or that in the daily lives of these nine women. In Robin P. Wright's case- it is all very clear and subtly powerful. In the case of the majority of the rest of the stories, I cannot say where the stories or the characters were headed except that they were surely acting in a convinced manner. Each story, except that of Ms. P. Wright's, seemed to misplace the simple character development and narrative line that each set out to explore. For example, we are introduced to a distraught young woman early on who has come home after some time away looking to confront her father. As we follow this unrestrained emotional character, we are dropped subtle narrative clues as to how our character has arrived at this point. These clues both dilute the emotion of the character( who really gives back story during emotional breakdown moments?) and the narrative line of the vignette( perhaps best served by allowing the powerful emotions to speak for themselves.) This theme of the divided viewer experience haunted this film- "will it be emotional or intellectual?" i think was the issue constantly at odds with itself during the viewing. As a whole, the film never committed to one or the other and i believe its impact suffered as a result.
It must be said that there were many very bright moments in these pieces and the hand of this director is a sure and talented one. Sorry for being so repetitive but Ms. Wright's performance is worth the price of admission. She is astounding within a very well written and constructed scene. She led with her emotion, contained at first and building up within her as a volcano as the scene unfolds. The audience was masterfully let deeper and deeper inside her world- one we all know within us. No matter the background of the viewer, this character will echo resoundingly in our memories for years to come. I guess i just wanted to see more of this wisdom from this very solidly made work. I hope the next time will be that one. Thank you.
For me, this film was inspired in some way, largely that of Acting, but lacked the certainty of its own direction. Where was it going really? It can be said to be real or an exploration of this or that in the daily lives of these nine women. In Robin P. Wright's case- it is all very clear and subtly powerful. In the case of the majority of the rest of the stories, I cannot say where the stories or the characters were headed except that they were surely acting in a convinced manner. Each story, except that of Ms. P. Wright's, seemed to misplace the simple character development and narrative line that each set out to explore. For example, we are introduced to a distraught young woman early on who has come home after some time away looking to confront her father. As we follow this unrestrained emotional character, we are dropped subtle narrative clues as to how our character has arrived at this point. These clues both dilute the emotion of the character( who really gives back story during emotional breakdown moments?) and the narrative line of the vignette( perhaps best served by allowing the powerful emotions to speak for themselves.) This theme of the divided viewer experience haunted this film- "will it be emotional or intellectual?" i think was the issue constantly at odds with itself during the viewing. As a whole, the film never committed to one or the other and i believe its impact suffered as a result.
It must be said that there were many very bright moments in these pieces and the hand of this director is a sure and talented one. Sorry for being so repetitive but Ms. Wright's performance is worth the price of admission. She is astounding within a very well written and constructed scene. She led with her emotion, contained at first and building up within her as a volcano as the scene unfolds. The audience was masterfully let deeper and deeper inside her world- one we all know within us. No matter the background of the viewer, this character will echo resoundingly in our memories for years to come. I guess i just wanted to see more of this wisdom from this very solidly made work. I hope the next time will be that one. Thank you.