Fairly Recent Movies: Happening; Petite Maman; Judas and the Black Messiah; Two Short Poems

Fairly Recent Movies

Happening

Based on the autobiographical novel by Annie Ernaux: Anne (Anamaria Vartolomei) is a high-achieving university student in a small city in southwestern France in 1963. Unexpectedly pregnant, she struggles to arrange to have an illegal abortion.

As fashions and décor look contemporary (a deliberate choice by director Audrey Diwan who did not want the film to appear as a period piece), it took a while to realize the time period. It is only known in an early scene where Anne reveals her year of birth.

The film is seen totally through Anne’s eyes and credit must be given to Vartolomei and Diwan for meeting this challenge and getting a powerful result. Some of the key scenes are fully in real time including one where Anne must lurk in the underworld to find what she seeks – a scene that can almost make the viewer feel as much fear and uncertainty as Anne feels.

There are various people problems along the way too regarding lack of support due to great fears in being complicit in breaking the law. This further adds to Anne’s difficulties.

The film’s second half, including various plot twists, was like a thriller. It was that intense. With great film-making mixed with a subject that is more relevant with recent legal changes in the U.S., “Happening” is a very compelling film experience.

RATING: * * * 1/2

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Petite Maman

Nelly (Josépine Sanz) is an eight-year old living in rural France. After experiencing a death in the family, she meets another girl, Marion (Gabrielle Sanz, Joséphine’s identical twin sister) who is close to her age. During their connection, coincidences seem to imply that Marion and her family have an unusual connection to Nelly.

The film’s beginning is quite touching as the family is grieving the loss of a loved one while also dealing with all the practicalities resulting from death.

The initial meetings between Nelly and Marion are enjoyable at first but later, some of their scenes are long and dull. The other-worldly aspect of the film was interesting at first but there were also times it seemed confusing and vague. But I seem to be an outlier as this film has won a lot of acclaim.

RATING: * * 1/2

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Judas and the Black Messiah

Based on a true story: in Chicago, 1968, Bill O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) is an FBI informant who is coerced to infiltrate the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers Party with special focus on its chairman, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).

It is very tempting and easy to compare this film with “BlacKKKlansman” released just three years earlier. Both films involve individuals fighting against anti-black racism; they take place during the volatile period of the late 1960s and early 1970s; and each involve a primary character acting as a double agent. Despite worthy praises for “Judas” (strong acting, powerful scenes, an eloquent exposure of unspeakable injustice), it comes up rather short compared to the earlier film.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” seems to keep a distance from the characters so their development is limited. Particularly, there is a missed opportunity to delve into the inner conflict that O’Neal would have faced as he was being manipulated to betray other blacks who were working against historical racism. Going deeper would have raised the film to a higher level.

RATING: * * 1/2

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Two Short Poems

After recently reading a lovely collection of poems by Emily Dickinson, I felt the desire to try to apply Dickinson’s special style with modern-day big city sarcasm.  Here are my attempts:

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Poem 1

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I see another loud drag queen

Who doth insist on being seen

     And heard by everyone.

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With all that competition, she

Decides to climb the nearest tree

     And upstage all who breathe.

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And when festivities are done,

Her rivals revel in the fun

     Of watching her climb down.

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Poem 2

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Dear God, I still cannot endure

     That which I so much love to hate:

Hearing Torontonians

     Speak of the price of real estate.