SYNOPSIS:
Me and You and Everyone We Know is a poetic and penetrating
observation of how people struggle to connect with one another
in an isolating and contemporary world. Christine Jesperson
is a lonely artist and "Eldercab" driver who uses
her fantastical artistic visions to draw her aspirations and
objects of desire closer to her. Richard Swersey (John Hawkes),
a newly single shoe salesman and father of two boys, is prepared
for amazing things to happen. But when he meets the captivating
Christine, he panics. Life is not so oblique for Richard's
seven-year-old Robby, who is having a risqué internet
romance with a stranger, and his fourteen-year-old brother
Peter who becomes the guinea pig for neighborhood girls -
practicing for their future of romance and marriage.
In
July's modern world, the mundane is transcendent and everyday
people become radiant characters who speak their innermost
thoughts, act on secret impulses, and experience truthful
human moments that at times approach the surreal. They seek
together-ness through tortured routes and find redemption
in small moments that connect them to someone else on earth.
MOVIE
REVIEW
Me
and You and Everyone We Know is a lesson for tortured souls
out there trying to make some dark despondent show on urban
alienation/social disconnectedness and growing-up pangs. Yes,
this is directed at budding local filmmakers who are crouching
in their gloomy bedrooms right now trying to despair their
way to another Be with Me or Smell the Rain. Just like movie
titles can actually be longer than three words, there are
many ways to skin a cat and shoot a story with desolate themes. In
writer/director/actor/solo-performance artist Miranda July’s
first feature offering, she plays a weird solo-performance
artist Christine who chauffeurs old folks, such as Michael
(Hector Elias) and Ellen (Ellen Geer), around to make a living.
During a trip to the shoe store, she met with jumpy spaced-out
shoe salesman Richard (John Hawkes) and inexplicably falls
for him. Richard, however, is carrying some emotional baggage
after separating from his wife and trying to cope with raising
two potentially libidinous kids, Peter (Miles Thompson) and
the enchanting Robby (Brandon Ratcliff). They have just moved
into a new neighbourhood with libidinous girls Heather and
Rebecca, as well as the Dakota Fanning of the precinct, Sylvie
(Carlie Westerman). Sulking in the local centre of the arts
is Nancy Herrington (Tracy Wright), the socially isolated
centre director.
Within
the suburbia context, Ms July weaves a whimsical fable about
hope and the passage of time. In her world, Sylvie, Christine,
Heather/Rebecca, Nancy and Ellen are vignettes of the woman
in different stages of her life. Sylvie the woman-child has
great plans for her future, stowed away in her hope chest,
the trousseau. Heather/Rebecca represents the sexually awkward
stage of life for many girls. Christine yearns for a story-book
romance, much like the performance work at the beginning of
the movie which involves the setting sun and two lovers looking
out over a beach. Nancy, the mature successful interpreter
of art, is lonely and out of sorts, trying to seek solace
in internet sex chat. Ellen, at a ripe old age, is still attractive,
but meets a man who truly loves her too late in life.
The males,
unfortunately, are thoroughly stranded in disconnection and
isolation. The Swersey brothers show a longing for interaction
with other people, to the mes and yous and everyones they
know. Richard is the struggling love interest who is not comfortable
in his current role as a separated lover and an uncommunicative
father. Seventy year-old Michael has traveled the world, but
he is unable to share the same experiences with the only woman
he loved.
Me and
You is a story constructed on revealing dialogues that normal
people usually do not say, but think about sometimes. The
interaction of these characters, thoroughly well-played by
every actor, drives the story which is a capricious take on
life that moves without you knowing why. This film can be
made disturbing and depressing, but Ms July chooses another
way. For breaking out of the mold and telling a story of alienation
and pain so magically, she deserves our respect.
The
final scene of the movie, when Robby strikes a coin against
a metal post while the sun rises, is illustrative of the grand
theme in the movie. Life may suck now, but if you hold on
and hold on, you will see the light one day. Because one day
everything will fall into place.
VISUAL:
Director of Photography Chuy Chavez uses a bland pastel palette
for much of the film, setting the stage for the characters’
inner world to shine through. This is especially so for the
luminous blue-eyed Miranda July, whose character gets to wear
all the bright colors. Talk about the director’s rights.
All these elements were very well-presented in the DVD.
AUDIO:
Mike Andrews leverages on the playful quality of
the film with some tinkling captivating tunes, so reminiscent
of American Beauty, to set up an upbeat but quirky feel. This
film is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Festival
films do not need special features. Alternatively, you can
check out their official website at http://www.meandyoumovie.com/
MOVIE
RATING:
OVERALL
DVD RATING :
Review
by Lim Mun Pong
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