The Revolution Has Begun !

Orange Is The New Black

Summer has finally arrived, but the summer months not only offer us luscious sunshine, bronzed skin and joy, they give us the return of our beloved shows! When May begins, I prepare myself for the return of my favourite shows that keep me awake at night, or hiding in my home while everyone is out enjoying the sun.I often find myself wondering, what is it about certain shows that attract the viewers, leaving them hungry for more and more. Without a doubt, Orange is the New Black is a show that I have loved for years, not only has it made me laugh uncontrollably; it has also affected me on a deeper level.

So what has season 5 got to offer to the dedicated fan base... well what hasn’t it got to offer. I can honestly say, that season 5, is in fact the best season of the series yet; it simply is outstanding. Arguably, with each season, Orange is the New Black never fails to keep us entertained, and of course wanting more, each season is unique in the style, and in the conflicts that arise in the Litchfield prison. However, season 5 has outdone all the seasons that we have been able to watch. The previous season of the epic series ended on a major cliff-hanger, the prison environment changed dramatically and the atmosphere became sour. The most striking change, that we have been able to witness, is the shift from the ongoing conflicts among the inmates based on race, social status or beliefs, to a conflict between the inmates and the prison guards. 

The most striking feature of the series, and arguably its most powerful weapon, is the ability to shift moods from an idyllic setting to a traumatic tragedy. Throughout the whole series, the audience were befriended by the inmates, each episode offered a background story of a certain character; this enabled the audience to understand the character on a deeper level. Therefore, with the arrival of the latest season, we simply know the inmates like our own friends, their struggles, or indeed their joys, affect our emotions.There are many reasons as to why season 5 stands out; one of them is the fact that the 12 episodes that we are able to view cover the events that occur within the space of only 3 days! Before I began watching season 5, I asked myself, what could possibly happen in 3 days... well things really do happen... I certainly found myself speechless, helpless, moved and saddened during this season.

Season 5 covers the events during the prison riot, where the inmates rise to fight the unfair treatment, unlawfulness, and misogyny faced by them on daily basis. The rules no longer apply and its now the time to show the guards what it means to be an inmate at Litchfield prison. However, it is important to highlight the initial cause of the riot, which of course was the tragic and unexpected death (or murder) of the beloved Poussey Washington. 

The main theme in season 5 is dignity, the dignity that the inmates are stripped off once they enter the prison. This season, shows the audience how unity is the most powerful weapon, during this season we are able to see inmates from different backgrounds, which normally do not mix, unite and join their powers, in order to fight for justice and dignity! Although the purpose of a TV show, or a film is to entertain, Orange is the New Black certainly focuses on the exposure of the truth, the dark truth of the corrupt justice system and the torturous treatment of people, as after all, inmates are still people no matter what they have done. The makers of the show, allow the audience to observe the justice system from the perspective of the victim, the ones in power are desperately trying to cover up their horrendous mistakes. The inmates are perceived as objects, and a crime committed against them, is nowhere near a ‘crime’, even if the one guilty admits to his wrong doing, he is not prosecuted.

Aside from all the seriousness, emotion and hurt portrayed in season 5, the show does not fail to make us laugh. Like always, the humour accompanies the tears of sorrow. I certainly did find myself laughing in tears during this season, also the show has something special for the ladies (and of course some gents)... it certainly is something we have not witnessed on the show, yet! 

So is Season 5 worth the time? Without a doubt it is a must see! Orange is the New Black is by far the most exposing and eye-opening series that I have had the pleasure of watching. Season 5 is breathtaking, simply beautiful, urging women to rise against inequality, unlawfulness and patriarchy that not only inmates face, but we all experience on day to day basis. Watching this season has made me proud, proud to be a woman, proud to see strong women uniting despite their difference to fight in what they believe in.In addition, each of the ladies involved in the show, simply deserve a standing ovation for their magnificent, heartfelt performances, hard work and dedication! While the season ended on, yet another cliff hanger, the revolution has begun, the world has finally heard their scream and there is no way that people will stand by while tragedy happens.

Anna Gaszkowska

8 Best TV Series !

I often find myself wondering, what it is about films that I love so much. The film medium caters for many individual tastes, for some, films are a form of an escape, relaxation, or simply pure entertainment. However, the art of films has so much more to offer! Films are a reflection of life, and for me in particular, films allow me to understand this crazy thing that is ‘life’. Although, the film medium is where I go to look for answers, I also find myself searching for meaning or simply entertainment in TV series. Whereas films typically have a limited time to develop their narrative, introduce and develop characters and simply entertain, series have the advantage of having more time, resulting in more freedom in the story telling process. We live in the ‘binging’ society, we binge drink, we binge on food, and of course, on entertainment, so what is it about Rick Grimes killing gruesome zombies, or Hannibal Lecter poetically devouring *food*, or even Ross constantly reminding us that him and Rachel were ‘ON A BREAK’. Well, the answer is not straight forward, as I have said, people watch and choose certain shows based on their individual preferences; however, what many don’t realise is the power these shows have in shaping society. We may think that we are watching a zombie show, or a show about a female prison where Piper humorously plays the ‘baddest bitch in town’, but in reality what these shows portray is much deeper and complex. What I have found watching numerous series is how accurately, yet ambiguously they manage to tackle issues that consume our society. So I have decided to list the shows that have managed to grab my attention, keep me entertained, move me emotionally and please me visually.

      Firstly, I have decided to mention FRIENDS, I mean how could I not? I simply fell in love with the whole cast right from the first episode! I find myself thinking, who is my favourite character and I simply cannot choose and that rarely happens. FRIENDS is of course highly entertaining through its humour that varies of course, we get to see Chandler throwing shade and sarcasm wherever he can, Ross constantly moaning, yet I find it hard to ever dislike him, he is so lovable, but yes, slightly annoying. Of course Phoebe who is the heart of the group, full of wisdom, weirdness, sassiness but full of love, also. The lovable Joey... Oh I’m in love with Joey and Matt LeBlanc! We cannot forget about sweet Rachel Green and of course Mrs Perfect Monica. I honestly haven’t met someone who is not a fan of the show! However, do not get mistaken, while FRIENDS will have you laughing in tears, it will also allow you to see ‘normal’ people facing serious life decisions and many times serious problems. FRIENDS does not only intend to make its audience laugh, but it allows them to see that they are not alone as it raises issues of adoption, surrogacy, sexuality, divorce and many more issues that many of us will find ourselves dealing with in our adult lives. What is great about the show is the fact that each episode is around 22 minutes long, meaning that you can binge watch the whole show (yes I am guilty) or you can watch an episode before work, during your break or before bed! FRIENDS has managed to make me smile through the toughest times in my life, therefore it’s a pleasure to recommend it to you!

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My second recommendation comes from the genius mind of David Lynch... Of course, it has to be the eerie Twin Peaks, yes another show from the 90s! Before I even knew about the existence of the master that Lynch is, the melancholic melody of Twin Peaks was running through my blood. My father, is a massive fan of Lynch and of course the show, therefore when I was still a little girl running around causing chaos, my dad was watching the show and the music was in fact haunting me for a very long time, I heard it playing in my head over and over, I was repulsed, yet, attracted to the melody. One day as I was flicking through the channels I heard the music play and I almost jumped! Finally, I knew where it belonged, of course I ran to my dad and asked him about Lynch and that’s how my journey with Twin Peaks and David Lynch began! So why watch Twin Peaks? Well, it’s a must see, the show is full of enigma, sexuality, lust, humour and of course mystery. What Twin Peaks offers is what you would expect from the peculiar mind of Lynch. Twin Peaks is rich in symbolism and is aesthetically pleasing. David Lynch is an outstanding director, his abilities in combining visuals and sound is simply breathtaking, the atmosphere that Lynch is able to create many have attempted to copy in their works, but failed.  With the upcoming revival of Twin Peaks in May, I suggest you get yourself a copy of the first two series and, yes, binge it. Twin Peaks is a masterpiece!

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Thirdly, continuing from the mystery of the town of Twin Peaks, I would like to recommend Broadchurch. I simply love British dramas; I was a massive fan of Skins, My Mad Fat Diary and Glue, and therefore it comes as no surprise that I fell in love with the haunting town of Broadchurch. Although, it is not as surreal as Twin Peaks as it focuses on authenticity and verisimilitude, the show will fill you with tension, dread and anticipation. Broadchurch welcomes its audience to its beautiful scenery, a place where life is slow, peaceful, a place where people go to get away from the mundane life in the city... a place that everyone knows each other, but do they really? Not only is Broadchurch magnificent for the visuals and the outstanding gripping narrative, the cast also shows commitment and dedication! David Tennant is great in the role of D.I. Hardy, he is strict, but yet funny without realising and Olivia Coleman complements his quirkiness; they are a walking contradiction, yet a match made in heaven. Broadchurch raises issues that affect many people, but yet these issues are not often talked about so openly, therefore the show enables its audience to speak out, get help. Broadchurch enables its audience to see that everyone is full of secrets, and we never really know someone’s true colours.

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The next show that I would love to recommend is, of course, Hannibal. I mean wow... Hannibal simply took my breath away! Fuller deserves a standing ovation for the aesthetic, atmosphere and the overall work on the show. Hannibal is a beautiful, rich and poetic show which seems rather contradictory; many might have guessed the main theme of the show is cannibalism. Of course the show has many similarities with the film Silence of the Lambs, however, Fuller has taken the story to a whole new level, and he somehow made the horrendous murders look beautiful. Hannibal is rich in symbolism, mystery and beauty found in the misery and sorrow. The master of suspense, Hitchcock, has once said that the root of tension comes from the audience knowing, yet being unable to act on their knowledge while the characters fall down the spiral of the unknown. I certainly did find myself almost screaming at my TV because I wanted Hannibal to be punished, but did I really want that ... Mads Mikkelsen is without a doubt, the most enigmatically beautiful man that I have ever seen, I am simply mad about Mads and I am a very big fan of his films, as he simply is an astonishing actor that has the ability to make his audience laugh, cry, and feel a mixture of emotions all at once. What Mads brings to the role of Hannibal is a ‘cherry on top’ for the show. The iconography within the show is so distinctive and rich. What the show offers to its audience is a unique journey of murder, love, lust and the desire to dig deeper into people’s inner drives.

 

My next pick is the badass work of Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy. I must admit when I started watching the show, I wasn’t sure whether it was for me, yes, I do like fearless men riding bikes into the sunset, but I simply did not know what to expect from the show and I am so glad I gave the show a try, because by far, Sons of Anarchy is the only shows that has been able have such an emotional impact on me. Compared to the shows that I have already mentioned, Sons of Anarchy had a pretty long run, as the fans were given 7 seasons. So why is the show so freaking good? Well first of all the cast, we get to see some very familiar faces, and the actors are so fitting for their roles, which adds to the authentic feel of the show, and of course, in result makes the audience respond sympathetically towards the characters. Sutter has managed to create something so raw and authentic, with the help of the thematic iconography, and of course the music which made me cry many times; Sutter’s wife, Katey Sagal whom played the role of Gemma, involved her band in which she sings in and their songs accompanied many heartbreaking scenes. Sons of Anarchy is about loyalty, brotherhood, family, but also shows how the trust can be broken so easily, and how quickly a friend can become an enemy, and how an enemy can become our friend. Throughout the seven action packed seasons, the audience have the ability to really become a part of the whole Teller family, and seeing them get hurt, betrayed and heartbroken has a major impact on its audience. Sutter tries to portray American gang culture in the most pure and authentic way! Sons of Anarchy is simply an outstanding series rich in every feeling imaginable.

·   Next on we have Orange is the New Black! The hype surrounding this show has been mind-blowing, which comes as no surprise, as Netflix shows have the ability to attract a major group of audience. All my friends were watching this, so I thought I will also give it a try. Once again, I was gobsmacked at how moving the show was. Orange is the New Black tackles contemporary issues not only of the American prison and government structure, but of the lives of women. The show has a major importance in the LGBT movement and the fight for equality. Although the show is packed with humour, it intentionally exploits the unequal treatment of women in prisons. Orange is the New Black is fantastic entertainment due to such a variety of personalities that the audience have the pleasure of meeting. We meet Piper, who is an affluent woman contrasting the character of Crazy Eyes who is an adoptee, facing major emotional and psychological issues, of course, Red is there to throw in some sassiness with her harsh Russian accent and her attitude. The shows enables us to meet such a mixture of people with such varied backgrounds. I have personally found the show to be extremely eye-opening revealing the cruelty and inequality experienced by many women in our society. I would highly recommend the show, its full of twists and turns, but most importantly the audience have the ability to become a part of a family consisting of drug dealers, murderers, human rights activists and many, many more... sounds fun  to me!

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Winter is coming... yes here we are with the next recommendation of Games of Thrones. It is no mystery that the whole world is simply crazy over the show; many ‘rebel’ against the mainstream and vow to never see it, and I guess I was one of those people too. I had nothing against the major fan base of the show, but I thought that the show will not suit my likes. I will admit, after seeing my brother reading the enormous books, I was scared that the shows will be hard to follow, and that there will be too much going on; and that simply frustrates me as I look for the meaning in everything. Nevertheless, I finally got the courage and chose to watch it. I must admit that the medieval, knights and kings films never interested me; however I am now officially a Game of Thrones geek and yes,I want to avenge Ned Stark... At first I still had mixed emotions about the show, however as the episodes went on I found myself tangled in family drama, betrayal, affairs and unexplained mysteries that I fell in love with...Of course, the show has a massive budget, meaning that aesthetically it is simply breathtaking. Game of Thrones is packed with action, suspense and emotion! Of course the actors are simply amazing in the portrayal of their roles, it is clear to see that so much thought and passion goes into the making of the show! So if you are ready to be taken over by the Game of Thrones craze then don’t wait any longer and watch the show. On the side note, the show is simply packed with rather attractive people such as Kit Harrington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and of course Jason Momoa!

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Last, but not least, I would like to recommend The Walking Dead. I had doubts whether to include this show on my list, as the series have been a mixture of fails, but also quality entertainment so the good outweighed the bad and here we have The Walking Dead. I have been a fan of the show for a long time, I was simply swallowed whole into the world of the zombie apocalypse and I still get sad thinking about Hershel... Anyway, as I watched season followed by another, I have been captivated by the deep storytelling and the obstacles that the characters had to face, but I have often found myself a little bored by some episodes due to their storytelling. However, the show has a massive fan base, that is in fact still growing and I have so much love for the characters; which I feel like I know so well. The Walking Dead offers the audience to see the development of the group, its leader and the changing dynamic between them and the troubles that they encounter on their way to a better world. What I love about the show is that it is so unexpected, one minute we are celebration their victories, and the next we see them swallowed by tragedy. If you do decide to watch the show, there will be many antagonists that you will simply hate (but at the same you would happily welcome them into your bed *cough* Negan)... but there will also be characters that you will adore and respect. The main reason why The Walking Dead simply had to make it on the list is the sub textual message that the show portrays. At first glance the show is about zombies and a group of strangers who become a ‘family’, however watching the show for quite some time, it is so clear to me that the show carries such an deeper message showing the audience that it is humans who are the biggest enemy, it is humans who cause pain, wars, and terror... The Walking Dead has made me emotional on many occasions, but I have recently found myself shedding a tear seeing not zombies killing humans, but humans killing each other. If you are not interested in the messages conveyed in the show, then you will certainly like it for its outstanding special effects!

So, before you watch another show, just remember that often, the main theme of the show is just a metaphor and a reflection of our society!

Anna Gaszkowska

City Of Stars, Are You Shining Just For Me ?

La La Land 

Prior to watching the film, I knew little about it. Despite being one of the biggest films of the year, it did not grab my interest enough and I did not feel an urge to see the film immediately. I simply knew it was a ‘must watch’ and an Oscar contender. Perhaps my lack of knowledge, regarding the film’s plot and narrative, created a mystery around it that attracted me, and I finally gave it a chance. I had no formed expectations and I simply allowed the film as well as its director to surprise me, to comfort me with its elegance and magic that it offers. I have never been a fan of musicals, or maybe I have seen the ‘wrong’ musicals, and that resulted in me branding the genre as ‘cheesy’ and not relevant to life at all. I found musicals to be too theatrical and exaggerated, however La La Land has proven me wrong as the story of the film is told poetically and melodically.

The film begins innocently, the establishing shot welcomes its audience to a sunny day in Los Angeles, the day is just beginning and the traffic is building up... Suddenly, out of nowhere, the film comes alive! Initially I thought ‘oh here we go’ I mean come on, who breaks out in a dance and a sing song during a traffic (yes I like films to represent REAL life) but I was simply mesmerised, and captivated. From the first scene, the audience are able to see how hard the director worked to make this film into a masterpiece. I rarely find myself concentrating solely on aspects such as editing and cinematography in a film, of course cinematography is the most essential part of the film, however I tend to examine a film and how certain aspects such as sound, cinematography and overall mise en scene are combined rather than how they are portrayed individually. However, the opening dance routine had me in awe, it was swift and smooth, it was simply outstanding and I found myself wondering, how the director along with the cameramen, managed to create such a magnificent opening. The opening scene is dreamy and joyful, however despite my misconception, it is not ‘cheesy’ or over the top at all. I must say that my opinion regarding ‘feel good’ films is divided, on one hand, yes, I do want to feel positive emotions while viewing a film, but on the other hand I want to see real life, almost a mirror reflection of life and its issues, ambiguously or in the form of a metaphor, it does not matter. What I ‘normally’ expect from a film, is a journey full of joy, sorrow and passion that life has to offer.

Despite my pre-existing inner bias, I fell in love with the film right from the start. Everything about the film, right from the beginning, suited my likes when it comes to cinema. It was rather refreshing to be able to see a film that is modern, but yet took me back in time, to the era that made me fall in love with films... The Golden Era of Hollywood... James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, oh I would give anything to be able to spend one day back in the 50s.It is clear to see, that the director was paying homage to the classics with continuous referencing to classical music, art and film. The film perfectly manages to capture the ‘moment’ as it almost ‘freezes’ time, and as an audience, we are taken back in time, the time where everything was possible if you believed in it, the time where everyone wanted to make it to Hollywood! As expected, one of the main themes in the film is the big ‘American Dream’, but a dream that is not driven by money, but passions and love for the art of film, theatre and music. The film beautifully portrays the desire to succeed and the misery of failure, yes, one may argue that the film romanticises failure and success; however it does the complete opposite as the director created an idyllic atmosphere, that heavily contrasted the misery and sadness of failure, and this helps the audience to understand how beautiful and painful life can be.

The film, and of course the director, uses all of its resources to its full potential and advantage. La La Land takes its audience on a journey of the most unexpected, a fairytale of love, passion and success. Often, films which focus heavily on the aesthetics result in an imbalance of style over content, however this is certainly not the case in La La Land; the film emphasises the complexity of life, while at the same time, visually pleasing the eye. The film is rich in symbolism that helps in creating an atmosphere, the colour palette is also rich, bold and exquisite; the colours used within the film aid to shift focus and produce emotions. The film is so aesthetically pleasing; I must say that the beautifully fresh visuals overpower Gosling’s beauty... I will admit, that a film which stars Ryan Gosling, is automatically sold to me. However, it is not only his great looks that attract me, he is an amazing actor and performer, he is versatile in his roles and manages to portray troubled characters in films such as Blue Valentine and A Place Beyond the Pines, which both I would really recommend, but Gosling fits perfectly into every role he plays and the contracts between his roles is major, from playing an introvert in Lars and the Real Girl, to playing a complex character in Drive, and a wingman in Crazy, Stupid Love (one of my favourite rom coms). Despite the fact that I appreciate a film, where the main focus is on of course Ryan Gosling, it was somewhat surprising and refreshing to see Gosling a part of the film’s composition, and not the whole focus. I was happily surprised to find out that Gosling, did in fact play the piano in the film, as there was no CGI or body doubles used, he spent an enormous amount of time learning to play each song and his dedication and hard work certainly shines through in the film. I could talk in more detail about Gosling’s performance (and just him in general ...), but I cannot ignore the magnificent Emma Stone. She is simply made for the role, she is lovable, goofy, she simply is a girl next door, she is rather likeable, and this helps the audience to sympathise with her character in the film. The film tells a story through melody, the melody of the sweet sound of Gosling’s piano, the melody of the seasons, time and the exceptional performance of both characters. Emma Stone’s performance was powerful, rich in emotion and authentic, as an audience we feel the pain that she feels, the happiness that devours her, and the melancholy and nostalgia of the moment.

The film beautifully combines the central themes of love for one another, and the love and passion people have for art. The narrative of the film arguably follows a ‘circle of life’ form. Gosling’s character describes himself as a ‘phoenix rising from ashes’ meaning that not only is he driven to preserve the tradition, he is also willing to combine modernism with classics. It is possible to argue, that the director intentionally mocks modern society, the audience are slowly and elegantly lulled into the world of dance, where Gosling and Stone begin their innocent romance through a Jazzy dance, and then suddenly, the beauty of the moment is interrupted by modernism, which in this instance, is a phone ringing. As I proposed earlier, the director’s intention is to show his audience how ignorant society has become; we ought to cherish and appreciate the arts, but modern life simply gets in the way. Not only is La La Land elegant, it is also an intelligent film, it may of course seem like a ‘feel good movie’ however, as the narrative progresses, we soon realise that the story is complex and deep. The director of the film cleverly provokes an emotional response within his audience, by manipulating the visuals of the film as well as the sound. This is also symbolic, as it aims to show the audience that words are not always needed to express emotion and also at times where words fail, music can speak to us. Surprisingly, the two scenes that struck me the most emotionally, were scenes where words were not spoken, but music was played. The bar scene where Gosling ‘entertains’ the guest by monotonously playing a Christmas song is rather significant, as it shows how strong the character’s passions and love for music really is, knowing he will get in trouble, he gets carried away, he begins playing a melancholic melody; it is important to point out the cinematography in this scene as suddenly the lights go out, and the whole focus is shifted on Gosling and his piano, the moment is intimate and mystical. Of course if you watched the film, you probably love the scene where Stone walks into the apartment and finds her love sitting nostalgically by the piano, she sits by him and their love is symbolised through the music that he plays, and they both sing together. The scene is simply dreamy, the whole film in fact takes its audience to another world, and this is what makes a film great, as the audience escape their lives and for the duration of the film, the outside world no longer matters, what matters is the love of Gosling and Emma, their troubles, happiness and their inner drives in life.

Overall, I must say that La La Land, is officially one of the best films that I have seen in a long while. It is deep, rich in emotion and authentically represents real life. Despite the captivating scenery, the rich and deep colour palette and the sweet feel of the film, the film carries a strong message. La La Land portrays two passionate people, coming from different worlds, finding love, sacrificing many things for the greater good. What I loved about the film the most, is not the portrayal of love and happiness, but in fact, the portrayal of people like you and I, getting lost and failing many times before they finally succeed. Even Gosling’s character, which needs Jazz more than he needs air to breathe, got lost along the way, he too almost gave up on his dream trying to conform and fit societal norms. I have always been a strong believer that we do not choose our dreams, they in fact choose us. Whenever I get asked ‘why film’ I simply say that I was born with the love of film in me, I was born to not only watch films, but feel them, devour them, take them apart and inject them into my bloodstream. Both Stone and Gosling’s characters were born with that inner love, whether its Jazz or acting, they were born to pursue their dreams. The film wonderfully portrays ‘love’ real love I must say. Despite the characters coming from two different worlds, they fall in love with each other and each other’s passions, they support one another and make sacrifices, and for me this is the true meaning of love. Once in a lifetime we meet someone, who we were meant to meet and love, someone who changes our life, however we do not always get the privilege of having them in our lives forever, as of course this is life... There is no doubt that Stone’s and Gosling’s character will always love each other; no matter where life takes them, they will always be the ‘one’ for each other. Remembering the ending of the film, makes me rather emotional, I easily sympathise with characters, however the ending really struck me, it was so graceful, but bold and eye-opening, and most of all, so true to life as everyone lives their lives with the ‘what if’ questions sneaking up on them.

I would HIGHLY recommend the film as it is simply extraordinary! I will go as far as saying that the pioneers of the classics such as Hitchcock would be proud seeing young directors having so much passion and respect for the art of the classics. The beauty of the classics will always linger, but it’s up to us to preserve it and immortalise it, or forget the beauty of it. I am beginning to feel like I have overused the word ‘beautiful’ in this article, however there is no other way to describe the emotions captured in this film! I have yet not seen this year’s Academy Award winner Moonlight (it is the first film to see on my list) however, I can honestly say that IF La La Land, was in fact the winner, then it would truly deserve that title and recognition. For me personally, I feel like La La Land was made for people like me, people who are somewhat different, following their dreams (and often failing) I simply needed to see the film to reassure myself, that if you were born to do something, then by all means you should do it! It is simply wonderful to see young directors beholding so much respect for the era that made Hollywood so great and opened many possibilities for the next generation of filmmakers.

Anna Gaszkowska

Coming Of Age Road Movie

American Honey 

Often, when I see a new film getting released I make myself a promise to see it; however I sometimes never keep that promise. Most often, it is the film’s narrative that attracts me the most, I simply watch the trailer and I instantly feel the urge to watch the film. This time it was different. I recall seeing the poster for American Honey on the last page of the Empire magazine. The poster itself reflected something that I admire, the free America that simply makes me ‘feel’. My love for America began a long time ago; the American Dream is what we ought to live up to. My love for all things Americana, stems from my love and admiration for the late James Dean and David Lynch. For me personally, Lynch manages to capture Americana in a haunting, but yet, beautiful nightmarish world. Perhaps, the representation of America is a representation of my true self. The American blue sky, the flag, and of course, ‘American Honey’ waving her hands in the air while driving in a stolen convertible, simply sells the film to me. I did not have to watch the trailer, to know that the film is a must watch, but the trailer certainly convinced me even more, and I simply needed to see the movie as soon as possible. Many American films, attract their audience through a utopian representation of itself, however even America itself, mocks the idealisation of their culture, take American Beauty as an example, the white fences, luscious red roses and the cereal box family... well it does not turn out to be so pretty in the end. The trailer was an indicator, which showed me that this film focuses heavily on authenticity, there is no idealisation involved, it is simply a raw tale of a group of young people. Arguably, many would say, that after all, the film is not so raw and authentic as we see famous faces such as Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough, but apart from those two, the whole cast is as authentic and somewhat unprofessional as can be. The trailer of the film gave me a taste of what I will be able to experience and feel watching this beautifully made film. The music lulled me into the story, it may not be something we all like and listen to, but is in fact something we all know, and something that fits the narrative perfectly. Since I have watched the film, I have had Raury’s ‘God’s Whisper’ playing on repeat, the song makes me feel a form of longing, sadness, but yet hope, overall this is exactly how the film made me feel as a whole.

For me personally, American Honey is a bitter-sweet tale, a road movie and a coming of age film. The main themes in the film, reflect real life problems such as poverty, domestic abuse and neglect, drug abuse, the reality of responsibility and becoming an adult, and of course, love. Is America Honey a love story, yes to a certain extent, perhaps the narrative explores love more realistically than any rom-com was ever able to. The film offers the audience an insight into the lives of young people, people like you and me, who are lost, who get by day by day, people who have dreams and an urge to achieve the ‘American Dream’ after all. Not only does the film carry an important message about society, it is in fact a well crafted piece of cinema. I was not surprised to see that, majority of the film was filmed using hand held camera, which adds to the authentic feel of the film. The use of cinematography is certainly creative and captures the rawness of the actors performances. Despite the visualisation of the characters, the lack of makeup and heavy focus on the authentic representation of road life (little value placed on personal hygiene) the colour palette is rather fresh, often films colours are enhanced post filming as this alters the mood of the overall film, however, this is not the case in American Honey, as the visual aspects such as the colour palette of the film, seems to be left untouched for the films benefit.

The film certainly suited my tastes, however prior to watching the film, I was somewhat put off by the film’s duration, I must admit that because of my analytical nature, it is rather difficult for me to stay focussed and interested for more than two hours. However, by no means what so ever,  did I find myself being bored watching American Honey. The narrative of the film is unconventional to some extent. A linear narrative, most often follows the structure of the beginning, inciting incident, and the climax of the film most likely leads to a happy ending. However, American Honey does not consist a major inciting incident that drives the plot, the story simply unfolds day by day (just like the lives of the characters); each day brings something new to the lives of the character and to the overall narrative. 

To no one’s surprise, I was captured by the film due to Shia LaBeouf. I admire him as a performer. Shia beholds a great talent, he is a confident and versatile actor. Apart from The Transformers franchise (lets ALL forget that those films were ever made) I have not been disappointed by a performance by Shia LaBeouf. Shia is an outstanding actor, but I cannot forget to mention how handsome he is, there is nothing ordinary about Shia; he is different and unique. For me, he was the perfect choice for this role, he himself is cocky just like his character, and just like Jake, he seduces our main protagonist Star, as well as the audience. Shia beholds a bad boy persona, and that definitely comes in handy when creating and developing such character like Jake. Also, Sasha Lane was a perfect choice for the film and she perfectly fits the role of Star. Star is rather enigmatic, she is distant and troubled, and Star is simply someone that many of us can relate to, she has suffered in life, but yet finds comfort and peace in the little joys in life. Only a personal that has came to know sadness, can really feel the happiness of the moment, and this is exactly what Star represents, when she sings, when she smiles she is like a ray of sunshine that penetrates through our skin. 

American Honey explores important issues of adolescent culture, and the film manages to capture the reality of adolescent sexuality and exploration. Not only do the characters experiment with recreational drugs, they also experiment with their bodies. From the beginning of the film, it is clear to see that there is sexual tension, desire and lust between Jake and Star; it is just a matter of time before they take their romance further. It is possible to argue, that the living conditions and poor social status of Star (and the majority of the characters) has almost forced her to grow up too soon; there is a sense of stolen youth.  However, on the other hand, Star and Jake both still carry childish immaturity within them. Their relationship is heated, impulsive, powerful, but yet, somewhat carries danger. Perhaps, this is how young relationships should be represented; films often offer their audience a fairytale outlook on love, however, young love is far from fairytales, it is irresponsible, irrational but full of lust and passion. The ending of the film is rather ambiguous, there are many questions left unanswered. However, real life does not have a Hollywood happy ending, therefore, by concluding the film in such an ambiguous way, the director stayed faithful to the authentic portrayal of life. It feels as if the director was just ending a chapter of Star’s life, the chapter that we as an audience, had the privilege of witnessing, therefore there should not be an obvious ending, the film ends, but Star’s story lives on, as she embarks on yet, another journey. For me the ending emanated beauty and radiated hope, perhaps Star has finally found a place where she belongs.

American Honey takes its audience on a journey of discovery. The characters (and most arguably, all youths) are impulsive and unpredictable, therefore, the film manages to capture the audience’s attention all the way through the film. Unconsciously, we as an audience, become friends with the gang, we are in the van with them when they go on road trips, when they try to make money, and most importantly, when they have fun; and in result we find ourselves singing along to the songs playing in the background, we feel an urge to dance with them near the camp fire. Although, films which focus on reality are important in the sense that they have a major ability to tackle rather important issues, even ‘true to life’ films can provoke a sense of escapism within its audiences. American Honey certainly does not aim to sugar-coat American youth culture, but yet, we find ourselves being absorbed by the narrative; and in result we picture ourselves driving in the van along with the characters, who by now, have become ‘our’ friends. Running away, feeling free and having the ‘anything is possible’ outlook on life, is a fantasy of mine and certainly of many others. This is exactly why I love the art of filmmaking, as film is the medium which allows us to escape, run away and experience new things without leaving the comfort of our homes. As a society we have been programmed to live vicariously. American Honey should be considered as an important film, not only form a sociological perspective, but due to the artistic abilities visualised throughout the film. All films have a message, but some are harder to read, as the films use metaphors and symbolism , American Honey is pure, it simply reflects life like a mirror. I highly recommend the film. American Honey is innovative, fresh and heartfelt. Is it a film we watch on a Friday night, I would not imagine so. However, American Honey is a film we watch and which swallows us whole into a new world, where we have a chance to have a feeling of belonging, acceptance and freedom. Whether you will like the film or not, the film will linger, long after the ending credits roll, you will find yourself still thinking about it.

Anna Gaszkowska