Arousal.Directed, written and produced by Sharon Hyman. Machartis Productions, 35 min. 1998. Montreal filmmaker Sharon Hyman also stars in this unflinching but uneven study of the gnarled gnarled adj. 1. Having gnarls; knotty or misshapen: gnarled branches. 2. Morose or peevish; crabbed. 3. little wars of relationship. Having recently split up, Diana (Hyman) now spends her time lounging around in bed, trying out depressing singles chat lines, eating junk food junk food n. Any of various prepackaged snack foods high in calories but low in nutritional value. junk food and recalling the unremitting cruelty of her ex-boyfriend. She also eavesdrops on her neighbours, a couple with its own set of peculiar problems. Weaving together memories of her boyfriend, failed attempts at dates via telephone, and the strange dysfunctions next door, Arousal only half succeeds. Overly long due to the awkwardly integrated neighbour subplot sub·plot n. 1. A plot subordinate to the main plot of a literary work or film. Also called counterplot, underplot. 2. A subdivision of a plot of land, especially a plot used for experimental purposes. and an unnecessary scene with a confidante con·fi·dante n. 1. A woman to whom secrets or private matters are disclosed. 2. A woman character in a drama or fiction, such as a trusted friend or servant, who serves as a device for revealing the inner thoughts or intentions (Aimee Lee), this promising effort comes perilously close to collapsing under the weight of its desire to offer sociological, psychological, sexual and satirical readings of its subject. Nonetheless, when Hyman concentrates her penetrating gaze on Diana and her former boyfriend, who harangues her viciously, selfishly and continuously off camera, her film is a riveting, intelligent dissection dissection /dis·sec·tion/ (di-sek´shun) 1. the act of dissecting. 2. a part or whole of an organism prepared by dissecting. of the pain of either staying in a relationship or leaving one. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion