I definitely need to get caught up with Lynne Ramsay's body of work. I saw her first film, Ratcatcher back when they played it at my local university film series back in 2000 and even though it has been close to twenty years since I saw it, I still remember the film and the impact it had on me. The film was done in Scotland, but within the first few minutes you will notice that there are English subtitles throughout the film and you might be wondering why as I did myself at the time mainly thinking that a film spoken in the English language would have no need whatsoever for subtitles that would also be in English. Within a short while within the film you will see that the dialect and accents of the characters are so thick and they will often use some slang, which I guess is more familiar to the residents there than it was to my Canadian ears. The film also showcased and brought to attention the sometimes downright grimy and filthy conditions that the characters were living in as well as the poverty that went with it. In many ways, Ratcatcher was an eye opening film because of it's frank and sometimes startling look at these all young characters who are living in slum like conditions and trying to make something of themselves and I remember being slightly disturbed while watching it and yet at the same time I could not keep my eyes away from it and even at the most uncomfortable, or disturbing scenes, I still found it to be a rewarding experience and a film that I will probably always remember even if I do not ever have the chance of giving it a repeat viewing. Ramsay has done only a handful of films since this marevellous breakthrough motion picture and I hate to say it, but the only one I have seen since is this new film, You Were Never Really Here, which certainly has a lot going for it as well, so if and when I get the chance, or find how available her other work is, I will for sure have to pursue it because she is certainly a gifted filmmaker whose talent has not worn off from her initial first outing of Ratcatcher, just shy of twenty years ago. You Were Never Really Here, is a different film altogether and comparing this to Ratcatcher, would be the equivalent of comparing water and oil, but the one thing that is consistent is the style of both films and what Ramsay does as a director which certainly takes a story that could very easily have gone wrong had this project ended up in the wrong hands and she gives us a film that is not just a film to see and forget, but more than anything else it is an experience and one that will touch you on several different levels and the professionalism of Ramsay and how she accomplishes this is truly nothing short of amazing for the previous film and this one too. This is a film very much in key with how to make a film that certainly will target not only your senses, but your emotions as well. Whether it be to the opening few minutes with it's powerful and hypnotic music score to the dark night street scenes that evoke a sense of unease and yet mystery and intrigue all the same. This is a wonderful example of a film that has a lot of style and yet does not lose it's substance in the process. It has a lot to offer as a visual experience as well as giving your brain a good work out and leaving you with plenty to chew on after the film is over. The storytelling style steers away from anything remotely conventional which to me was a refreshingly different take, while others will definitely lose patience and most likely interest in the whole thing, but your filmgoing audience who is after something more substantial and a break from your usual Summer fare will be much rewarded for sticking with a film like this. The style of storytelling certainly is unique and at the same time it never gives us easy answers for what we are seeing and there are times when what we are seeing we are not sure are real, or not, or possibly just an illusion, or hallucination. I commend the film for giving us something to contemplate and reflect upon rather than being a sell out and trying to downplay everything to appeal to a wider audience. Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the lead character is in my opinion one of the best working actors today and his performance here is often quiet with few words spoken, but what he converys by body language and behaviour is so expressive and we can tell that this is a character with much pain and torment inside him and he is truly fascinating not only to watch, but to study as well. The cinematography is beautifully captured by giving us shots of sometimes brutal, or unpleasant things to look at, but it was truly one of this year's best shot and looking films which also goes to the overall style of the film that comes across right away. This is an unconventional film that certainly has a lot to offer from a very gifted filmmaker whose other work I need to get caught up on and a cast and crew who truly do their very best and the result is pure movie magic.
Review of You Were Never Really Here
