WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Youth and the modern world. What exactly is it to be young, facing this current society’s ills and faults, while trying to find a sense of identity and value? Do we fall back on cliched sterotypes of what the generation is being told it is, or allow them to make their own mark in the midst of total chaos, even if it means still being directionless? It is a story of a 27-year old man (Eric Riley) who stares down the barrel of an age-old male issue–he’s obsessed with a girl. After only having an initial 3 dates with Kim (Daniela Montalvo) to prove himself to her and how he feels, things go south and it’s over, leaving him–still obsessed.
Kim is a rebel with dreams, willing to push the limits of her own ambitions, and sometimes the legal system, when it comes to being the strong-willed young woman she is, choosing her actions with abandon, endeavoring to find a purpose, and generally living without a true compass to guide her. Yet, these two wayward souls have soon found themselves on virtually equivalent, aligned journeys as examples of the urban-based, young adult cross-section of the country, their paths intertwining again and perhaps providing the ability to start again, both with each other and with life in general. It’s a world seen through dark glass–it is funny, it is cynical, it is strangely lush.
Next, my Mind:
Dark comedic elements, intentionally fragmented narrative, and purely obscure, out-there cinema highlight this 19-minute short film effort from writer/director Samuel Valenti, painting an image of contemporary chaos, a voyage into madness, and the sheer erratic patterns of life amongst the young urban set in Philadelphia. Soon to be screening at the 2018 Berlin Liberi Film Festival, this reviewer will freely admit to feeling completely lost watching the film at first, and this honestly feels like that was the objective laid out for me as the viewer, only getting to glimpse seemingly disconnected bits and pieces of two people’s stories that happened to find a way to intermix just as randomly. With this, could it therefore be said that the artistic genius behind the film is to do what it does–cause utter confusion and baffled minds–yet end up really showcasing just how accurately these notions reflect not only the lives of the young people depicted, but of the world overall in this present age that’s so filled with anger, loss of initiative to succeed, and any semblance of wanting to even treat each other with any modicum of respect.
To just go about our own business, to do whatever it takes to make it on a day by day basis, to be scattered in our thinking as to what fulfills us, make controversary out of everything, all while seeking the means to just be, this film at heart is a subtly-veiled social statement about today’s society and how overtly temperamental, fluctuating, impulsive, unpredictable, and turbulent it is. Visually, the film carries itself the same way, following the two lead characters through a series of constantly shifting scenarios and disorganized sequences that really make the project what it is thematically, again as intended, and causing you both laugh and scratch your head. There is at least one scene involving Kim and her chosen pursuit of–art–that I personally could have done without despite the general comedic nature of it, but otherwise, the film is completely visually sound, smoothly shot, and well executed. The highly quirky soundtrack, as provided by Altar LVST and Alpha Gold, accompanies the proceedings with apropos musical stylings that match the eccentricity of the film.
Riley carries himself with an almost James Dean-esque, devil-may-care confidence mixed with a rebel-without-a-clue, somewhat apathetic manner in portraying the 27-year old male protagonist here, who seems like a decent enough guy but also doesn’t quite have set goals in life yet, rather just dreaming of where he’d like to be or otherwise melancholically dwelling on Kim and how he’s the only one who she needs. It’s a caricature perhaps of a “typical guy”, disjointed notions about what’s important and having the cavalier attitude, but it’s what makes it almost sad that he doesn’t seem to possess any tangible notion of who he wants to be, and therefore kind of slides through his existence, figuring the world is going to hell in a handbasket anyway, so why worry? It’s the unfortunate image of this world, and Riley’s enactment of this young man with potential being so lost is well formed and solidly brought forward by the actor.
In a similar overall vein of perspective and approach when it comes to seeing life and its faults, Montalvo infuses sassy recklessness with equally confident and not helpless but still present vulnerability in her role as Kim, a free spirit who has had her share of disappointments when it comes to love and life, therefore choosing to make her own rules and goals for survival that can sometimes go beyond legality. Yet, her frustrations with things doesn’t stop her from also attempting to enjoy things as much as possible and maintain at least some concept of grounded-ness. Still, it would appear that once she ends up back in the man’s life she originally left, the idea of being “settled” doesn’t necessarily fit or suit her more cautiously carefree ways, perhaps not really wanting anything “serious” to slow her down or get into a situation where she might feel stuck, limited, or “kept”. Again, like the young man, it’s a bittersweet picture of a meandering, haphazard adventure that is actuality for her, and Montalvo certainly portrays it with vivacious energy and poise.
A huge number of supporting appearances are made here from Zachary Darrup, Sean Krasinsky, Ali Awan, Nate Nowak, Sheila, Tony Defrancisco, Nick Knighton, Robert Shropshire, Steve Carlough, Charles Birkhead, Hannah Meade, Maya Smith, Brittany Thomas, Keira Jones, Maggie Sorber, Conor McCue, and Hannah Gold. In total, while not nearly the most accessible of films relative to others due to its very purposefully detached randomness in narrative delivery, “Hers Is A Lush Situation” is the very definition of indie cinema thanks to the unusual, out-of-left-field manner it brings and the peculiar way it actually makes you consider the state of being we’re all sharing in thanks to a world currently losing its own mind and in desperate need of righting itself. Think maybe we’re all going just a little mad, eh?
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
