Rare Objects

Benita Parla (Julia Mayorga) is struggling after trauma. She finds possible safe harbor in an antique store owned by Peter Kessler (Alan Cumming) and Diana Van der Laar (Katie Holmes) who is dealing with mental illness.

Katie Holmes is the director and co-writer. This is the first of her as either that I've seen. I'm not a big fan of her acting since her Dawson's Creek days. I like the lead and some others although Katie's acting remains an issue. As a director/writer, at least she's trying to do something different. The slow pacing really gets to me. I have difficulties with this film. This movie either speaks to you or not. I'm not hearing it.

When I first read the summery, I was hoping not to watch just another revenge or vindication story and I am glad I didn't judge the book by the cover. I thought to myself, let's give it a try simply because of the stars playing in it. I was very pleasantly surprised.

It is more of a realistic approach to human nature, how lives intertwine and friendships are formed. The story evolves around human emotions in a very delicate way. Thanks to the brilliant writing I was watching and experiencing a huge range of complex human emotions, and the even more brilliant acting made it impossible to look away. I often get easily bored by American produced money making blockbusters and ending up stop watching, not this time.

Rare Objects is hugely underrated, we need more movies like this!

There are several stories going on here but the central one is a college student called Benita, she lives with her single mom, there is no hint of a father. She attends CUNY and hopes to get a degree in Economics. She views it as something that will allow her to get a decent job.

But something traumatic happens after she meets a seemingly nice stranger at a bar. It disrupts her entire existence. She gets help, ends up in a facility that treats people with emotional and/or drug and alcohol issues. When she gets out she does not tell her mom about it all, but does say she is "taking a break" from college.

Katie Holmes co-wrote the screenplay and directs it. She also has a prime role as a woman of a wealthy family but who has no control of her life. She and Benita meet at the facility and become friends.

Benita is determined to get her life back on track, she interviews for a job working in a store that sells antique items to wealthy customers. Her boss is played by Alan Cumming.

My wife and I watched it on DVD from our public library. The whole movie has an unusual feel to it, including how relationships are handled. Still it was an enjoyable watch as something different, and to see how the various dynamics worked out.

The protagonist is a lovely actress, and Alan Cummings is adorable, but the drama is predictable and lacking. I have not read the book but I was hoping that this film was really going to unpack the trauma of sexual assault victims. Instead it focuses more on Holmes' character, a bipolar/schizophrenic addict who fidgets a lot, and her relationship with Benita. In fact their surface level friendship takes up a good portion of the film but it's not terribly interesting. They have a couple of giggly late night chat sessions, get drunk a couple of times, and wax poetic about life, but other than being broken, which apparently every character is in some capacity, I don't see what they have in common. I'm a trauma victim, I just don't see bonding over mental illness as a positive thing. I also really disliked how preachy this film feels, characters constantly drop feel good lines about beauty, honesty and rebirth, it feels like a Pinterest board full of inspirational quotes, and they like to show broken objects constantly to remind you of how broken the characters are, but unlike objects people cannot be repaired with some gold epoxy resin. And that's the big drawback here, a woman who was raped almost never discusses or receives therapy for it, and we're suppose to believe she picks up and moves on. Sexual trauma is a life time affliction, and it would take way longer for this woman to acclimate post trauma than it depicts in the film. It honestly undermines the severity of mental health in pursuit of touting some flowery speech and feel good moments. I think Katie Holmes would have been better sticking to Pinterest.

This movie is about looking at your life. Enough is enough - More can kill you.

People and Society expect you to be as much as possible. If you have ability then you have to use it to progress as far as you can. This movie says - just enjoy what you want to be. Less is More.

The two Mum's represent the pressures that Society put on you. The antique shop guys represent a world where you can enjoy who you are - but even that can be sad if you lose your soulmate - but even that can be pisitive if you reflect on the joy that it brought.

This movie is great - if you are willing to hear, rather than just listen.