You Are Alone

If you're tired by the same repetitive, unintelligent material that the mainstream movie industry releases, you'll enjoy "You Are Alone". It is thought provoking, well shot and riveting.

Without revealing anything that you don't find out in the first few minutes of the movie, this is the story of a young white high school girl from an upper middle class environment who is working as an escort and is discovered by her neighbor. The vast majority of the movie occurs in a hotel room where he hired her to come.

Through their discussion, you explore two shifting views of prostitution, depression, loneliness. Yet the movie is not depressing. It talks about dark things without being depressing.

As a viewer, your emotions and preconceived notions are moved around, but gently. You come out of it with a lot to think about. I like that in a movie.

There were moments when watching, "You Are Alone" at the New England Film + Video Festival recently, when I felt the lead characters seemed very familiar, like old college friends, who gradually become larger than life. The journey these characters undertake is at turns, poignant and hilarious, and a testament to the artistry of screenwriter/director, Gorman Bechard, who wrought such authentic characters, and the actors, Jessica Bohl (Daphne/Britney) and Richard Brundage (Buddy), who brought them to life.

Several comparisons have been made to Coppola's, "Lost in Translation." To me, the film was more reminiscent of Pen-ek Ratanaruang's, "Last Life In the Universe," in terms of its edgy, melancholic beauty, laced with the kind of smoky humor I associate with Jarmusch and the hermetic intimacy of Roehmer.

Finally, much well-deserved ado has already been made about Bechard and Bohl, about which I heartily agree. The only new comment I might add is that the unsung hero in all of this is Richard Brundage, whose nuanced portrayal of Buddy blends equal parts sweetness and menace with deft, and who provides an aching flow of innocence and Weltschmerz to counterpoint and draw out the character of Daphne/Britney.

Kudos to all involved in, "You Are Alone."

Good show, really good acting, and the director takes us swimming through his storyline in an interesting, unpredictable way, especially since, essentially, it's two people in a room. It doesn't race through like many modern films, but doesn't drag, either. Bohl is flippant enough to believe her in the "now" of her character, which is still involved and not going back on her 'career' choices - so it is believable without the need for her to show us a deep, self-examination of her soul...Brundage has the delicate balance of weight, innocence, meekness, and class to pull off 'Buddy' very well. A bit grainy on the film quality, but it fits the tone of the story. Could use a little polishing on the hair and makeup end of things, but definitely worth watching.

Do not watch this movie if you're depressed. It is VERY depressing. That being said, it is a great, low budget film with great dialogue. The actress really shines. It will stick with you.

So I saw this on Amazon Prime and the synopsis looked interesting. Having a couple of hours spare, I thought I'd give it a go.

When it started it did suffer from the trait of super low budget films where the camera was just too close to the actors faces and I considered cutting it short. However, there was something interesting in the characters and whilst I initially railed against Buddy's puritanical interrogation of Daphne, I found myself wanting to know more about both of them and actually see them get it on.

Whilst Daphne's body is lovely to look at, it wasn't the titillation of seeing sex but rather watching two clearly lonely individuals experience a meaningful physical connection.

The film raised questions about prostitution, about appreciating the female form and what power/control that brings and about the crippling feeling of loneliness. It recognised the fantasy fulfillment and sexual needs that it satisfies but it also broached how it can be a way of making a physical connection with another human for a brief period of time.

Richard Brundage does well but I have to commend Jessica Bohl's acting. Whilst she is pleasing to the eye, it's the self assured confidence that she has, or rather portrays in her role, that is so arresting. She comes across as both level headed, capable and responsible but also approachable and vulnerable. I've not researched the careers of anyone connected with the film but I certainly hope that she, and the director, have used their talent to go further in this field.

Overall, a surprising low budget gem that has left an impression on this old and sometimes melancholic guy.