Palindromes

Seen at the London Film Festival, 27/10/04.

I've seen a lot of strange films in my life, but this has to be right up there. Compared to this, "Happiness" was a crowd-pleasing knockabout comedy. I have to say that I found "Palindromes" hard going, even boring at times, although there was definitely a slow burn quality and by the end I was pretty much drawn in.

The film plays rather like a cross between Luis Bunuel and a live action "South Park". The multiple-actress technique pioneered in "That Obscure Object of Desire", deadpan style and flat picture quality on the one hand, taboo-breaking humour, song 'n' dance and perverse exploration of moral issues on the other.

I wonder what a conservative audience would make of this film. My guess is that it's aimed squarely at a liberal audience, but it absolutely refuses to pander to liberal prejudice, instead laying into the "pro-choice" position in a manner which can only be described as destruction testing. I get the feeling that Solondz is challenging his own opinions on the issue, as much as ours. Pro-lifers might see the storyline as vindicating their beliefs, but I dare say would be so horrified by other aspects of the film that they wouldn't make it to the end.

This is probably Solondz' bleakest movie to date, despite moments of (very dark) humour. Scientific rationalism is weighed against religious fundamentalism and both are found utterly wanting.

Incidentally there is no rape in this film, despite comments elsewhere, although there are certainly very disturbing scenes.

A brave movie, overall. I'm sure Solondz could take the David Lynch/John Waters route towards the (relative) mainstream with considerable success, but "Palindromes" sees him driving determinedly in the opposite direction, in every respect.

I just saw this at SXSW in Austin, Tx on March 14, 2005 and all 1200 people in the Paramount theater had to laugh because if they didn't they would have to cry. Before the movie, Todd Solondz himself wished that we would enjoy this "fable/fairy tale". Though this movie has fable like qualities, I wouldn't suggest showing this movie to a kid unless you were interested in destroying the kid's morale. Every character in the movie is malignantly realistic and I lost count of how many times I put my hand over my mouth and shook my head trying to decide to laugh or scream. "Palindromes" has a totally unique way of looking at abortion, pedophilia, individualism, family and parenthood through the points of view of these well developed characters. Though we may not have wanted to experience these point of view, the character's acceptance of their own realities makes the viewer take another look at their reality.

I think this is a great movie for people with daughters. If this movie doesn't make you want to be a better parent then I guess there is no hope after all. Well, I'm finally closing in on 200 words, I could have definitely stopped after saying "people had to laugh because if they didn't they would have to cry."

Todd Solondz, is a man who dares to go where other auteurs would not go. As a result, his films are tremendous achievements because of what he decides to explore on screen. Obviously, his films are not directed for the masses. His films are appreciated by a small group that know what Mr. Solondz is capable of tackling. This is a man who appears not to know shy away from getting involved in what is wrong with the suburban society he seems to know so well.

If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading here.

In this new film, Todd Solondz takes us back to the Wieners, the family that he introduced to us in his debut, as we watch the closed casket of Dawn. At the same time we are shown another family that are related to the Wieners, the Victors. The director loves to examines the family dynamics, as it's the case with the study he does on the Victors.

Aviva Victor is a girl who wants to have a child. Alas, it's not going to happen any time soon. We see, in painful detail what this young woman does to her suburban parents. Joyce, the mother, is shocked and horrified. There's only one thing in her mind to do: Aviva is made to have an abortion, to which she doesn't agree, but one that is forced on herself.

Joyce, the materialistic mother, in a scene that is about the best thing in the film, tries to reason with Aviva and offers her own story about how she had also aborted a baby, who would have been named Henry, after her father. Her motives are purely based on whatever sacrifices the arrival of the unwanted baby would have meant in the Victors life.

Aviva, after the botched abortion by Dr. Fleisher, takes to the road in a way to show her rebellion against what has been forced on her. Aviva, for her young age, is extremely wise as to what to do and what to expect from the different people she meets along the way.

The device by Mr. Solondz to have eight different actors play Aviva, pays up in a way one wouldn't even have thought it would. Each one of the actor/actress leaves his/her own imprint in playing this disturbed girl. The most appealing of the different people playing the girl is the "Sunshine Aviva", the Afro-American that makes quite an impression in her take on this sad lost soul.

When Aviva is found by the side of a brook, the kind Peter Paul brings her to the Sunshines' home. These amazingly couple are too good to be true, as one discovers later on. The motherly Mama Sunshine is anyone's idea of how a mother should be. Not having family of her own, they have taken about a dozen children, each with a physical problem, but who appear to lead a happy existence with the Sunshines.

Peter Paul takes Aviva one day to the dump site where some of the discards from the abortion hospital take the fetuses. Aviva is horrified, she identifies to the fact that wanting to have a child of her own, this reality hitting her in the face is too much for her. Aviva then takes to the road again with the man she has had a sexual encounter before. This proves fatal as he is a man on a mission, an executioner that acts for the hate group that the Sunshines belong to.

The film is multi layered with an incredible texture between the adventures Aviva experiences. "Palindromes" is a hypnotic film. Any viewer falling under its spell is in for a magic ride guided by Todd Solondz.

What the director has gotten from this talented cast is one of the best ensemble playing from any indie film this year. Ellen Barkin has one of the best moments of her career as Joyce Victor in the sequence where she tries to explain to Aviva the reason for aborting. Debra Monk, a fine, but underused actress, is magnificent as Mama Sunshine. Ms. Monk's appearance shows us a woman that on the surface is something, when in reality she is a monster. Sharon Wilkins, the "Sunshine Aviva" gives a compassionate reading that reveals so much of the young girl she represents. Alexander Brickel's Peter Paul, the boy that befriends Aviva, plays the sweet boy perfectly. Also in the cast, the wonderful Stephen Adly Guirgis, who plays the right wing enforcer fanatic.

Mr. Solondz is to be congratulated in getting a tamed performance from the otherwise intense Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays one of the most quiet Avivas.

This film proves that Mr. Solondz loves to takes chances in telling stories that are dark and not commercial, but he makes them resonate with his viewers because he doesn't compromise with what he perceives as the truth around him. This is a man who is not a wishy washy when it comes to taking chances in being an original.

Obviously the film isn't for everyone and anyone who has seen Happiness or Welcome to the Dollhouse knows what they're in for. The film sat well with me though.. far from the sadistic gut-kickings of Happiness, the characters here are broken softly and with great sadness. The subject matter of the film will turn many people off (violently), but the actual execution I found inoffensive, and a worthwhile trip. I'm convinced that Mark Weiner's reappearance at the end of the film is a stand-in for Solondz himself, as he dryly confirms that he is not a pervert, and is in return told by the protagonist that he is too passionless to be a pervert. There's more soul searching in this film than misanthropy and it's a positive turn for the director.

Whenever a film by Todd Solondz comes out I'm excited. The reason I'm excited and the reason most people are excited is because you know it's going to break all kinds of taboos and be disgusting and tasteless and blah, blah, blah. When you sit down and view a Solondz feature you know it will be one sick friggin' movie, and 'Palindromes' definitely delivers on that account. It's not so much 'Palindromes' breaks so many taboos is that it is perhaps his most unsettling film. Yes, even more unsettling then his most acclaimed work 'Happiness' which followed a perverted prank caller, a serial-killing fatty, a struggling novelist who wished she was raped as a little girl and a psychiatrist who is secretly a homosexual pedophile. 'Palindromes' is unsettling because it deals with such a dark and very realistic element of life -- childhood pregnancy. We follow a little girl (played by different actresses in every section including a morbidly obese black woman and JENNIFER JASON LEIGH!) who has an abortion because her mother (Ellen Barkin) makes her. The little girl is confused and angry so she runs away and finds what could be solace with a simple country Christian household that adopts disabled children who form a Christian pop band while the man of the house conspires to murder abortion doctors. It's one sick film, but it's also poignant too.

All of the actresses who play the little girl do a very fine job. Ellen Barkin is solid in her really nothing role, while Mathew Faber (who reprises his role from 'Welcome to the Dollhouse') is hysterical and consistently a pleasure to watch especially during his 'nobody ever changes in life' speech at the end which seems to be one of the main points Solondz's 'Palindromes' tries to get across. I feel Solondz tries to open our eyes by saying not everything is what it seems and life isn't a beautiful perfect thing. He expresses this by showing us a seemingly wholesome family with good "christian" values who commit such disgusting and heinous acts such as murder. 'Palindromes' is a very dark movie on one hand, but a very hysterical one on the other. The scene where the disabled kids are singing in their Christian pop band caused me to burst into uncontrollable laughter, while the kids' quirky and hilariously satirical dialogue at the breakfast tablee scene reminds of a Brady Bunch Episode from hell.

'Palindromes' is a good film, but it is probably Solondz's weakest effort. I was semi-satisfied with it, but I was really expected a hell of a lot more. The acting was good (but not as good as his other films), the writing was good (but not nearly as good as 'Happiness' or 'Welcome to the Dollhouse) but the directing seemed to be more improved then any of his other films (except that opening scene shot on a camcorder -- I think that was supposed to be very low-budget). Die-hard indie, Solondz or just off-beat film fans will enjoy this, but someone expecting a mainstream feature will detest it. View 'Palindromes' at your own risk. If you find it repulsive and devastating to watch, don't say I didn't warn you. Grade: B

my ratings guide - A+ (absolutley flawless); A (a masterpiece, near-perfect); A- (excellent); B+ (great); B (very good); B- (good); C+ (a mixed bag); C (average); C- (disappointing); D+ (bad); D (very bad); D- (absolutley horrendous); F (not one redeeming quality in this hunk of Hollywood feces).