And just like that we are almost 1/4th through 2022. For many of us it flew by in an instant, as the world got even crazier (like that was necessary). It seems incredible to think that the pandemic is no longer the most dangerous and highlighted thing happening in the world. Times like these can be especially confusing, as I find myself lost in the abyss of the world’s chaos. However, my treatment (not a cure, unfortunately) to this existentialism is once again the wonderful world of film. In this issue, I will highlight the most intriguing film I came around to in February, and the impact it had on me.
Synecdoche, New York
Dir. Charlie Kaufman
The perfect escape from depression, anxiety and existentialism is a movie about depression, anxiety and existentialism. Charlie Kaufman is able to truly create a revolutionary piece of art with this film, it reaches deep into the audience’s psyche and almost speaks directly to the individual, creating something that is more of an experience than a movie. Synecdoche, New York doesn’t have the flashy cinematography or the crisp visual design that I was expecting, the screenplay doesn’t jump off the screen, the characters don’t captivate your attention. However, once you open yourself up to the movie, it doesn’t fail to amaze. The movie is just a depiction of a man, dealing with his issues, as he stumbles forward into the darkness. While it can be painfully cryptic and vague at times, if you are willing to give it a chance, and let its ideas seep into your mind, you will be left amazed
The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman delivers a slow, yet enchanting performance as he plays Caden Callard, the protagonist, engraving his character inside the very soul of the audience. Over the course of the film, we slowly see Caden, a playwright, become more and more anxious and depressed about his life choices as he is forced to face reminders of his own mortality. He makes mistake after mistake and cries out for help. But, no sound ever seems to come out of the lost man’s mouth. Caden eventually decides to create a play based on his own daily life. But, that only gives him another vehicle to get lost in. This movie is much bigger than its plot, it's cinematography, or its soundtrack. Caden’s story reaches you on an emotional level which transcends the medium. His journey is something that the audience can find glimpses of themselves in, and as the ending approaches, each one of us finds some solace in Caden’s conclusion, with the hope that we will all find our conclusion in the future. He is forced to confront what truly matters in his life and acknowledge his flaws and he tries to move ahead. Kaufman really created somewhat of an abstract painting, which seems ugly and pointless on the surface but is immeasurably beautiful inside its layers.
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