WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
What becomes the price of prominence? We work, strive, and struggle to find the avenues to success in our given professions, ideally willing to push things to whatever viable limits there are in order to attain the pinnacle we’re aiming for. However, when the validation and recognition FROM said ascendancy isn’t ACTUALLY what we personally what when it starts to manifest, will we be able to cope? Or, will we cave under pressures we never saw coming? Aspiring actress Kat (Neda Davarpanah) is looking at this dilemma square in the face, as her more highly reclusive nature begins to clash with the weight of newly minted fame. But, under the veneer of this, is there a more deceptive agenda in play by those she was supposed to entrust with her career, much less her very life, as facets of a valued new film role opportunity begin to unravel her crumbling sanity.
Next, my Mind:
The harsh and still-shocking, manipulative, soul-crushing realities of accolades, loss of privacy, withering battles with anxiety, and the true cost of being blinded by what’s lurking under the surface of glitz and glamour all form the core foundational gist of this new indie feature film that arrives courtesy of writer/director/producer/editor Reza Amidi, co-producer Bruna Cabral, and associate producer/cinematographer Iliya Gegov which places a conspicuously up front, unflinching, raw portrait of the notion that “all that glitters is TRULY not gold” and that the real burden of fame could very much cause you to lose all you are. This general concept has been demonstrated through many a film over the time this critic has been reviewing efforts from the indie community, but what should honestly reverberate quite vigorously and persuasively here are the tragic REAL LIFE examples of just how damaging or veiled trying to exist with acclaim is, because no matter the magnitude of achievement–these are still only HUMAN BEINGS, mortal, with flaws, and sometimes very sadly, too many unknown troubles/issues that have lead to fatal disaster.
Now, for the sake of this particular narrative we’re presented with, which sees a talented but socially withdrawn actress being forced into the spotlight thanks to an unanticipated feature film offer that she cannot pass up and the subsequent mental (plus some physical) torment she then has to try and endure when the attached insomnia, insecurities, and a shadowy underlying agenda she discovers take over her entire life, it becomes more than just your average cautionary tale about seeking success in the film business. It arguably wants to plummet you relentlessly into a different realm even beyond sickening casting couch tales and into more darker, utterly calculating, Machiavellian endeavors that will not only push you to your mental limits, but end up causing you to even question who YOU really are and what depths ARE you willing to stoop to when the choice is forward or complete personal annihilation. That sounds very extreme, but this really is how the film’s direction is taking us as we watch those aforementioned trials upend an innocent person’s existence to the farthest extents and beyond.
It creates a highly tension-filled atmosphere, one that remains both jarring and haunting while also compelling us to realize that, in SOME form, certain elements involved here have or DO occur. We’ve SEEN the stories on the news, watched as those who “have everything” have ended their own lives, or otherwise come out and EXPOSED it all happening! It’s unnerving, and the film does a magnificent job at keeping you on edge, unsettled, and in a constant state of wondering what precisely will end up happening to this poor woman who only ever wished for success without fuss. Now, whether THAT can ever be the case when one rises out of obscurity TO the echelons of fame is another matter, but again, the film is astutely adept and strongly written to illustrate the battle for one’s very BEING here that is impactful, undeniably intense, and frighteningly realistic, as least in this critic’s opinion. The thematic turns throughout that address how we’re defined and see ourselves, depression, restlessness, social media, agents, secrets, being withdrawn, betrayal of trust, two-faced “friends”, false fronts, trying to BE humble in an industry that is anything but, that celebrity ISN’T all it’s cracked up to be or is portrayed, stress, mental fatigue, general isolation, coping, addiction, exploitation, and being cornered with impossible decisions that must be made.
All of it continuously builds and builds as the film progresses, with a pacing that never lets up and yet still allows engaging character development and the fleshing out of a situation spiraling out of control with, as mentioned above, a consistently unyielding force of intent, leading to a finale that is a full-out body blow given all the circumstances that have come before it. One MIGHT try to say that people should not be SO overtly naïve when seeing how certain things that seem obviously dubious are happening, but you know what, genuinely put yourself in the character’s place and wonder if you WOULD have chosen differently. Easy to say when on the outside looking in, even in context of this fictional film, but unless you HAVE experienced something akin to this, made it through, and fully learned what NOT to fall for or get involved with, yeah, don’t assume anything. Even with this being an overall fictive effort, the actualities of the industry that ARE more than present here, I feel, is completely necessary to keep at the forefront of our minds, even as a viewing audience, because things only change when people of ANY involvement take action.
The radiantly beautiful Iranian-American Davarpanah has the distinction of making what I believe is her feature film acting debut with this project, and if this is indeed the case, it is one whopper of an introduction to the world through her lead role as Kat, an actress in Hollywood attempting to gain more promising and prominent acting jobs while also maintaining a deeply introverted lifestyle in the midst of an culture that thrives on the exact opposite. Already battling certain levels of inadequacy and discriminatory attitudes being confronted, the role of a lifetime comes along thanks to meeting a high-level producer. But, once events occur that suddenly put an entirely differing picture of the opportunity on the table, Kat’s whole notion of any inner or outward peace gets summarily destroyed, immersing her in a shady, dangerously harrowing world of dark agendas that threatens all of who she wants to be. The entire performance Davarpanah provides just exudes all-encompassing, emotive vulnerability, frenetic dramatic intensity, and resolute determination that showcases a woman trying to stand strong in the face of daunting factors and odds.
Primary/key supporting roles come through Leah Grosjean as Claudia, a celebrity photographer and best friend to Kat who soon becomes one of the few people Kat can still put any real trust in, Jeffery Thomas Johnson as Dominic, a high-profile, smooth-talking talent agent who, upon meeting Kat, offers her a plumb role that will have more attached to it than she will ever initially realize, Brian Ronan Mulroy is Bobby, a local and formerly popular comedian on a downslide whose involvement with the events that will shape Kat’s life may also be more than it seems, Brent Yoshida is John, a neighbor of Kat’s who does his best to get her out of her seclusion, Clayton Louis as Craig, Kat’s current boyfriend who is yet someone else who has secrets undivulged to someone he claims to love, Todd Carroll as Det. Correa, an L.A. cop who comes calling when things have begun to lean towards suspect circumstances he’s trying to uncover, Circus-Szalewski is Henry, a well-received producer on the film Kat’s now in and who certainly presents the demeanor of a Hollywood exec, Tiffany Kesler is Lynn, Kat’s soon-to-be former talent representative.
McKensie Lane plays Sasha, another up-and-coming actress whose place in the events unfolding in Kat’s life becomes paramount to revealing truths being kept hidden, William Thomas Jones and Sarah Carson as Baker and Estelle, Sasha’s parents who might not be quite who they seem in the wake of their daughter’s plight. Additional appearances are made by Nolan Bryan, Nick Burson, Sheri Effres, Ola Kaminska, Richard Mooney, Andrea Nguyen, Art Roberts, David Otto Simanek, Chloe Sirene, Gabi Stewart, Cameron Weir, Sarvin Alidaee (voice), Cait Medearis (voice), Stephanie Schulz (voice), and Curtis Starner (voice). As I always like to state, it takes EVERYONE involved to make a movie, so I give total props to ALL the actors above, as your contributions ARE important to this story being conveyed. And so, in total, “Bird of Paradise” is a taut, tense, gripping drama/mystery/thriller that easily maintains your attention while delivering an unapologetic venture into the depths of Hollywood’s potentially corruptive underbelly, a sobering tapestry of subversion and seduction that fame can manifest that asks if it really IS worth the cost of your soul.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
