2005, USA/UK
Drama, Romance
During a pivotal moment in this film, a boy describes to his brother a picture he has created representing everyone they know as seen from above. Some are standing, some are lying down. Many are continuing slowly down the same path they have always pursued, faltering in potholes but maintaining their original course. Writer and director Miranda July has created a world in which the characters' quirks and obsessions define them but do not prevent their growth. As their lives intertwine, their idiosyncrasies evolve and yet maintain their distinctiveness.
July allows her experience as a performance artist to permeate the film, as each scene could easily be viewed as a self-contained work of art. Characters speak lovely truths represented through unassuming symbolism. As John Hawke's ("Deadwood," The Perfect Storm) optimistic shoe salesman slips a better fitting shoe onto July's lonely-hearts artist's foot he plainly states, "You think you deserve that pain but you don't." So much power in a statement so loosely delivered.
July creates a web-work amongst her community of oddities that falls together so easily. Their importance and influence on one another is necessary and yet not shattering. Their relationships are important but not urgent. The passage of time (represented sweetly and succinctly at the story's conclusion) may not be advancing at the same rate for each individual. Children and adults seem to meet at different ages than their bodies represent, and share a knowledge beyond their experiences. On equal footing, everyone has something to say.
July's character lives her life through her art, screaming at herself on the inside while in reality making no attempts to rock the boat. Much like a bagged goldfish sitting precariously on top of a moving car (an unusual yet completely justified situation in the film), she forces herself to maintain a safe speed and make no sudden movements that could jostle her juggling act. However, upon meeting the man with whom she is destined to finish life, she begins to take risks.
Characters speak to each other without boundaries. After only ever speaking a few words with one another, the seemingly star-crossed shoe salesman and artist turn a walk to the car into a beautifully symbolic dissection of a relationship, where street signs become mile markers in their lives and they begin and end a decades-long love affair in a matter of minutes. Throughout the film such open discussions are never met with regret, but are rather introductions of pure honesty that raise these characters from being comical to admirably thoughtful.
July has accomplished a great deal with a film where the plot outline holds little importance. Each of her vignettes is so creatively beautiful and intelligently woven into the next that the seams never show. Though everyone walks around with their insides outside, they wear their sensitivities as scars of honor rather than something to be bandaged and hidden. Many characters have dirty little secrets, but in a town without shame no one is shunned. Rather, they are welcomed with casually open arms.
DVD extras include deleted scenes and previews for other independent films.