| 49. LIBERAL ARTS |
[Apr. 29th, 2012|12:30 pm]
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dir. Josh Radnor, USA 2012.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872818
"Think about it- you can walk around here, say 'I'm a poet,' and no one will punch you in the face."
The SF Film Society Members Screening for this year's fest was Josh Radnor's LIBERAL ARTS, a film I would otherwise not have seen, but enjoyed immensely- between just having seen DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, and similarly spent time last week with Cal students as does the protagonist here at his alma mater, Kenyon, while accumulating more visceral reminders of my age as of late, the story and characters are hitting me at just the right time in my life.
Indeed, Radnor captures this moment in the post-quarterlife crisis with tremendous earnestness and introspection, and conveys many relevant emotional ideas with warm visuals- it is so pleasant and invigorating to see American independent movies continue to trend in being so much more grounded and optimistic than their predecessors. Like DAMSELS, the college experience here is closer to the one I had, characterized more by big conversations and soul-searching than boozing and other Dionysian pursuits, which are more part of the atmosphere.
Radnor's script toes the line between treating the characters as devices and actual memories well enough to give the actors room to put their stamp on the material- while the writerly strings are still somewhat apparent, the arcs are so effective that the work stands as a significant benchmark in Radnor's creative evolution, one that is relatable and seems attainable through the passion and empathy that his characters espouse.
Big thanks to SFFS for programming this screening- I've previously kept Radnor and "How I Met Your Mother" at somewhat of a distance, having not quite related to those characters as so many of my friends have, but he really showed me something here, taking personal experience to celebrate the developmental safety of university and what comes after, using the usual homecoming arc and conventions in honest ways that resonated with me more than others of its kind that felt more forced (GARDEN STATE being foremost in my mind at present, though definitely not without its own charms). I can't wait for more of my friends and family to see this film so that we can talk about it together- I'd like nothing better. |
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