Little Joe (2019) Film Review
I watched "Little Joe" which was produced jointly by the UK, Austria, and Germany. The Austrian director Jessica Hausner directed the movie which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Emily Beecham (Alice Woodard), Ben Whishaw (Chris), Kerry Fox (Bella) and Kit Connor (Joe Woodard) are the stars of the movie. Emily Beecham won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival with Little Joe. In today's post, I will discuss this movie in detail. Therefore, if you haven't watched the movie yet, I advise you to directly read the Conclusion part. Have a good read!
Theme
Alice who is a senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species develops a plant that makes people happy. However, she soon realizes that this plant affects people in a different way.
Thoughts About the Film
Scientist Alice develops a plant that makes people happy. Contrary to the species which are more resistant and therefore ask for less care, this particular plant asks for care all the time. In return, this plant gives off a scent that makes people excrete oxytocin. Alice names this plant "Little Joe" after her son's name. However, soon, she realizes as this plant pollinates, the personalities of people who smell these pollens somehow change.
The movie discusses themes such as happiness, the meaning of life, sincereness of the emotions and what are our true selves are. What is happiness? When are we happy? Does it make us happy that someone needs us? According to the movie, that is why we love Little Joe. That is exactly what makes mothers happy: There is someone that needs them.
Little Joe is infertile. However, it finds a way to breed and starts to affect people through its pollens. Thus, people who smelled its pollens start to do what they can do to protect it and spread it. In the end, these people cannot value something or someone else but Little Joe. They have become someone else now but they still pretend what they used to be. It's like they are playing themselves in a play, or a movie. Indeed, it is no different than the way that children affect their mothers. Mothers do anything they can to protect their children. The children become the meaning of their lives, their first priority. It is like nothing else matters except them. Once they have a child, they are not their old selves anymore. They just start pretending their old personalities.
Little Joe is infertile. However, it finds a way to breed and starts to affect people through its pollens. Thus, people who smelled its pollens start to do what they can do to protect it and spread it. In the end, these people cannot value something or someone else but Little Joe. They have become someone else now but they still pretend what they used to be. It's like they are playing themselves in a play, or a movie. Indeed, it is no different than the way that children affect their mothers. Mothers do anything they can to protect their children. The children become the meaning of their lives, their first priority. It is like nothing else matters except them. Once they have a child, they are not their old selves anymore. They just start pretending their old personalities.
The film also discusses if our lives based on breeding. Even the plant Little Joe found a way to breed. The way is so strong that influences millions of people. To understand this theme better, we can talk about the character Bella. Bella is an old lady who works at the same company with Alice as a genetic engineer and has a history of mental illness. Bella, as we understood she is single, has a dog named Bello. Since Bella could not produce, in her own words, execute the meaning of her life, she committed suicide in the past.
Bello gave a different meaning to her life again. But someday, Bello smells the pollens of Little Joe and changes. Bella puts Bello down since he is not himself anymore. At this point, the movie examines the situation that the thing which needs you becomes an impediment and does not let you become the real person you are. In these kinds of situations, you could kill Bello just like Bella or like Alice, you can give up on your son since he changed. Even you could try to kill all those "Little Joe"s that you put so much effort into.
Perhaps, in deep, you are a different person but you have to take time with your child because society imposes you so. Perhaps, in the optimal circumstances, you could choose your job over your son. Maybe you are denying who you really are and impersonating another person your whole life. Workaholic Alice could have taken more time to her job and herself if Joe has not ever existed, even though she loves the fact that he needs her.
Bello gave a different meaning to her life again. But someday, Bello smells the pollens of Little Joe and changes. Bella puts Bello down since he is not himself anymore. At this point, the movie examines the situation that the thing which needs you becomes an impediment and does not let you become the real person you are. In these kinds of situations, you could kill Bello just like Bella or like Alice, you can give up on your son since he changed. Even you could try to kill all those "Little Joe"s that you put so much effort into.
Perhaps, in deep, you are a different person but you have to take time with your child because society imposes you so. Perhaps, in the optimal circumstances, you could choose your job over your son. Maybe you are denying who you really are and impersonating another person your whole life. Workaholic Alice could have taken more time to her job and herself if Joe has not ever existed, even though she loves the fact that he needs her.
The film also asks if we could evaluate the sincerity of emotions. We can mention Chris at this point. Chris says that he likes Alice. Indeed, by the end of the movie, after he smelled the pollens of Little Joe, he tells her that he is in love with her to pull her on his side. When Alice realizes Little Joe's effects, her colleague says: Who can test the sincerity of emotions? Indeed so. Sometimes, even we cannot be sure if our feelings are true. We live with dishonest emotions. Dishonest smiles, dishonest sadness, dishonest astonishments.
I would also like to mention the colors of the movie. Vivid colors are used beside pastel colors in every scene. Dark purple amongst mint green colors; red "Little Joe"s inside white flowerpots. An explosion amongst calmness, serenity. The compositions of the scenes were fascinating. If you pause the movie and take a picture, it would look pretty. I found this movie successful this wise.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning acting since Emily Beecham won the Best Actress award with this movie at the Cannes. Her performance was pretty impressive. Also, Kit Connor must be appreciated alongside her. I believe he was the second-best acting-wise.
I would also like to mention the colors of the movie. Vivid colors are used beside pastel colors in every scene. Dark purple amongst mint green colors; red "Little Joe"s inside white flowerpots. An explosion amongst calmness, serenity. The compositions of the scenes were fascinating. If you pause the movie and take a picture, it would look pretty. I found this movie successful this wise.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning acting since Emily Beecham won the Best Actress award with this movie at the Cannes. Her performance was pretty impressive. Also, Kit Connor must be appreciated alongside her. I believe he was the second-best acting-wise.
Conclusion
Although I enjoyed the themes of the movie, I cannot say that I really liked this movie. I believe it is too long because there were unnecessary scenes. However, in my opinion, if a movie makes you think, it is a good movie. Also, the performances were great. Therefore, I give 3.5 stars for this movie. I wish I see you in the next post.
Bu yazının Türkçe versiyonunu buradan okuyabilirsiniz.
Hiç yorum yok: