Women Share, "Every Secret Thing."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Every_Secret_Thing_poster.jpg#/media/File:Every_Secret_Thing_poster.jpg

My heart raced through the pre-show of the New York Film Critics premiere of, “Every Secret Thing.”  As I watched the trailer, I was blown away by the diversity of the cast and the number of prominent female characters. My excitement grew as the host introduced the women who drove the project: producer Frances McDormand, director Amy Berg, writer Nicole Holofener, and Actresses Diane Ladd and Dakota Fanning.  

Since only 5% of studio productions are directed by women, there was a lot riding on this production.  So few films, especially thrillers, are directed by women. The rare women who succeed in getting studio distribution have the unfair responsibility of representing all female filmmakers.

In the post-film discussion, the women spoke candidly about what drew them to the project – the irredeemable characters. The actresses shared how they rarely get to play complex women.  They were proud to be creating genuinely flawed characters – to challenge societal norms requiring mothers to be depicted as kind and nurturing.  And these women succeed at being brutally honest in their depiction. The audience audibly gasped as the rejected tween girls approach an unattended baby and take it from its stroller. Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg brought to the project her strength for unearthing the bitter truth.  She desiccates the mythology of motherhood – foraging through parenting decisions for far reaching consequences. What she uncovers is our hunger for nurturing, and how a lack of nurturing can have a negative impact for a lifetime.  

Director Amy Berg

Admittedly, this was an ambitious first narrative feature for documentary director Amy Berg. There was the challenge of dealing with the shifts in time and balancing the different characters’ perceptions of the past traumas. I would have liked to have seen more of the abusive home life that led to the abduction. The director shared how she formed the prerequisite thriller plot twists in the editing room. At times they felt a bit contrived. These are the kinds of mistakes that you learn from and improve with each movie you make. I hope she gets the chance to grow her unique voice.

Movie blessings!

Jana Segal

reelinspiration.blogspot.com

"Enough Said..." about my divorce. (Whoops! Did I write that?)

At first glance, “Enough Said,” appears to be just another quirky little, self-deprecating romantic comedy. But writer/director Nicole Holofcener gives us something much more down to earth and real. It is actually a different kind of love triangle. Two recent divorcees, Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Albert (James Gandolfini), find comfort in sharing life’s changes until Eva unwittingly befriends her new beau’s ex-wife (Catherine Keener) and starts seeing Albert through his ex-wife’s disgruntled eyes.

Director Nicole Holofcener and Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus

I actually watched this film a second time for the warm feeling it left me. A recent divorcee myself, I found comfort in sharing their post-divorce challenges. Like Albert and Eva, I was reeling from the thought of my kid leaving for college. After coping with shared custody, empty nest syndrome hit like a ton of bricks. But Eva and Albert discover that sharing coping strategies and jokes makes it a little easier. I cringed as Eva allowed Albert’s ex to vent about him. But I understood how, after going through a broken marriage, she was afraid of making the same mistake twice. Like so many of us in the dating world, she set impossibly high standards so she wouldn't  be hurt again. When the conflict comes to a head, Eva and Albert must decide if sharing their messy lives is worth the effort. This isn't escapist romance. It’s down to earth, awkward, and sometimes comforting like sharing your life.

Love this movie! Enough said. 

Movie blessings! 

Jana Segal

www.reelinspiration.blospot.com