Hello, I’m back with four new recommendations: two 2023 releases, a classic you can only find on YouTube, and an Agnès Varda documentary that’s perfect for this time of year. I also have two podcast recommendations, because why not? If you haven’t gotten your fill of Barbie discourse, I got a kick out of This Jungian Life’s in-depth analysis, in which they delve into the movie’s archetypal themes. I also caught up with Marc Maron’s extended interview with Kelly Reichardt, recorded in the spring when her movie Showing Up was in theaters. He talks with her about every single one of her movies! I highly recommend it if you are a fan of Reichardt’s films. (Also, Showing Up is now available on VOD for only $4.99, if you missed it in the theater.)
My Favorite Varda
The Gleaners and I (2000)
Written & Directed by Agnès Varda
1 hour 22 minutes; Streaming on Criterion (or glean it from your public library)
Gleaning is the act of gathering produce left in the fields after the harvest. But it can also be viewed more broadly as a process of collecting things slowly, over time, picking through materials that have been left behind by the marketplace. It might mean combing through someone else’s trash or going to a thrift store and searching for neglected treasures. 72-year-old Varda records examples of gleaning with her brand-new digital camera—a new technology at the time of filming—delighting in the fact that she can easily hold it by herself. Using a handheld camera gives the film a casual intimacy as Varda mixes in self-portraits and moments of personal reflection amidst her interviews with gleaners of all ages and stations. It’s a joyful, playful, and deeply kind film. IMDB * REVIEW * CLIP
Raunchy Road Trip
Joy Ride (2023)
Directed by Adele Lim
Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao, and Adele Lim
1 hour 53 minutes; VOD $5.99
Apparently the working title of this movie was a lot more vulgar. Obviously, it was a no-go for marketing, but I think it would have done a better job of setting expectations for this bawdy comedy. Many reviewers described it as raunchy, yet a number of commenters weighed in to complain that it was really raunchy. So, consider yourself warned! This is a sexually explicit, often silly, very funny comedy that is also an exploration of Asian-American identity. Although the plot borders on nonsensical–a lawyer teams up with her artist friend and college roommate to close an important deal in China–the performers really sell it. Sabrina Wu is a standout as “Dead Eyes,” an awkward cousin who tags along on the trip at the last minute. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER
Worst Honeymoon Ever
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
Directed by Elaine May
Written by Neil Simon
1 hour 46 minutes; Streaming on Youtube
I’ve been hearing about this movie for years, but it’s hard to find. You might be able to rent the DVD from your library. Occasionally it plays in theaters. But for now your best bet is YouTube. The picture is occasionally blurry and there are a couple of glitches (weirdly similar to the glitches in the Spiderverse) but in general it looks pretty good and the acting and directing are so sharp that it doesn’t really matter. It’s a dark comedy about a man who falls in love with another woman while on his honeymoon. With a screenplay by Neil Simon, there are plenty of laugh lines, but May turns it into more of a cringe comedy, letting scenes play out awkwardly, with very real emotion. You can’t laugh away the pain in some of these scenes. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER
Sweet Mockumentary
Theater Camp (2023)
Written and Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman
1 hour 32 minutes; Streaming on Hulu
I watched this at home with my son, who is definitely a theater kid, and he immediately wanted to watch it again. It’s a goofy mockumentary about a theater camp that is in danger of closing. So the kids have to save it with an original musical about the founding of the camp! It’s like Summer Stock crossed with Christopher Guest. There’s maybe a splash of Abbot Elementary, too–it’s kind to its characters in the same way. I really enjoyed it, especially the final act, when the kids stage their musical. The songs are terrible in a hilarious way and the kids are amazing performers. IMDB * REVIEW * TRAILER
I love the idea of a Varda finger puppet, seems like she would have liked it, too. Let me know what you think of Showing Up. I thought it was a pretty funny, honest take on the daily struggle to make art, showing all the little things that get in the way. Thanks for reading, Kerri!
‘The Gleaners and I’ is an all time favourite…I’ve actually made a few Agnès Varda finger puppets for some different people over the years, and one was based on this pic of her with the wheat over her shoulder :) Also, I love Kelly Reichardt films so much, but haven’t watched ‘Showing Up’ yet…as someone who has struggled to make art since having a kid almost 9 years ago, I think I was worried it might fee a bit too on the nose, or something. But I’m actually excited about it, and will watch soon. Thanks as always for all these recommendations!