There’s so much in the world to be sad and worried about at the moment, I have been watching some films which are a bit escapist. Mostly offbeat but all giving me a bit of hope for humanity in their different ways.
Pretty Red Dress A warm funny drama stuffed full of music, all about a family given a proper shake up by a red dress. Travis (Natey Jones) is just out of prison, Candice (Alexandra Burke) is trying to get her big break as Tina Turner in a West End show, and Kenisha their daughter is having loads of trouble at school. When Travis buys the red dress, it changes things for everyone in the family as they all work out they are all a bit 'off key' in their own ways Very sweet but with a defiant core and a lovely sense of a proper family.
Days of the Bagnold Summer
Apparently this is an adaptation of a graphic novel so another one to add to the list! Directed by Simon Bird, this is the story of a single mum (Monica Dolan) and her introverted son (Earl Cave) having a bumpy summer trying to work out who they are individually and together. Love the metal band who take their career very seriously and the comic turns by Rob Brydon and Tim Key. Very gentle but sharp too, and with a soundtrack by Belle and Sebastian, plus the cherry on the top is a Green Wing link with Tamsin Greig playing a slighty ditzy friend.
Tangerine
Two trans women spend a day and evening taking revenge on their pimp and ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend whilst also getting ready for a performance in a local bar alongside dealing with clients and families. Shot only on iPhone this is a pretty gritty but fabulous looking film with a lot of drama. It also made me laugh quite a lot, with a very sharp script and performances. This friendship is more than a bit bumpy, and there are lots of secrets to be uncovered, but the ending was a little hymn to best friends or maybe found family.
Finally ...
The Five Devils
This isn’t particularly feel-good but it is weird enough to work as a bit of escapism whilst also digging into what makes a family tick. A beautiful looking film, this has a big chunk of supernatural spookiness, magical realism and time travel. 8 year old Vicky has a superpower of smell. She can recreate any scent and finds that she can use it to cause havoc in the life of her parents and wider family whilst trying to protect them. Very twisty in the storytelling, it’s a mix of creepy thriller and a family melodrama. I did have a bit of a wtf moment at the end but I think I have worked it out now.
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