AWOL

This movie is trying to tackle and portrait a subject that is not easy to put on the screen delicately. But if you want to see a well made movie about the subject go watch Carol. Oh I know it's a "Hollywood product" and blah blah but at least it has actors, acting, talent and direction. This film has none of that. It's got two protagonists who are not able to pull anything off simply because they lack any talent, skill or authenticity. What they lack is being substituted by a lackluster music score. Good story, good screenwriting but absolutely zero execution right down to the directing

Okay, when I watched this movie THEN saw that it had 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, I thought surely I slipped into an alternate universe...then I realized only 6 people reviewed the movie. I'm going to assume those 6 are either related to the actors/writers OR they have been kept in an underground bunker since birth, devoid of human contact and without concept of language beyond guttural sounds and hand gestures. In a nutshell, this movie sucked at all levels..the acting...the story...the direction...the ending...the dialogue. I could go on. About the only thing that kept my interest was my discomfort with the cleanliness of mobile home and Reyna's unkempt hair. There was nothing "artistic" about this movie, in fact, I've watched people grab their luggage off a baggage carousel with more enthusiasm. BOO!

... paired with a boring story line that many other movies used before. Sorry but really bad to watch.

AWOL is such an honest film, that when you watch it you effortlessly breathe and feel with its main characters. This is due to director Deb Shoval's remarkable ability to submerge you in a small Pennsylvania coal town, and to actresses Lola Kirke's and Breeda Wool's fearless performances as Joey and Rayna. It is an intimate look at the lives of those who don't often grace the silver screen: soldier recruits, wives, closeted lesbians, and rural American families. AWOL is poignant, guarded, raw- like Joey and Rayna's relationship. Watching it will make you more compassionate, more understanding, and somehow more human.

I have been following the progress of this film, eagerly anticipating its release. From the opening sequence, through to the final frame I was invested in the characters journey and the underlining themes of the story. Authentic directing from Shoval helped create space for the characters to build, only cutting and moving the camera when necessary. The queerness of the characters is not made out to be the central theme of the film, however, the love story is genuine. Kirke delivers an emotive performance that reflects a relatable, yet painful depiction of the reckless nature of a first love.