A Festa

I had decent expectations for this from the second I saw it's trailer, I've just caught it on Netflix and it's fair to say I'm disappointed. A jumble of weird political statements and a masterclass in overacting the only thing going for this film is the fact it's a little over an hour in run time. With shallow characters who are easy to hate and are mostly uninteresting with the exception of Murphy's Tom this film is sadly not what it could've been. The setting is great as is the cinematography and style plus there's some great uses of music but sadly the 'story' is simple (which can be fine) but poorly executed, not what it could've been

This is an odd little film, but I did enjoy it. For starters, it's only 71 minutes long, essentially the length of a typical streaming weekly drama offering. Additionally, it's shot (very nicely) in black and white, features a total cast of just seven actors (including a handful of very recognizable faces), and takes place wholly in one house using only about four shooting locations there.

This black comedy revolves around a joyful government promotion announcement and the unusual cast of characters that arrive at a small private gathering to celebrate. Conflicts abound and the very smart dialogue runs from politics to pregnancy to life coaching, much of it snarky, droll, and dripping with sarcasm (not all these people like each other; we soon learn why).

It was a quick and entertaining film. Had it gone much longer, it might have become tedious, but it didn't get there. If you're a fan of smart adult banter and personal interaction and intrigue, you'll probably like this. The great cast helps.

The story of 'The Party' was unbeknownst to me upon my viewing of the film. All I knew was that it is directed by British Auteur Sally Potter and stars Kristen Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall and Cillian Murphy, which is the extent of context I will divulge here as I feel it is better to watch this film knowing very little about its narrative.

Although simplistic in its base narrative, underneath 'The Party' is a short, snappy, satirical view on the modern day socio-political climate. It paints the modern system of politics as ineffective at implementing change, suggesting a more immediate method is required in this day and age to keep up with such a rapidly changing world. The film succeeds and does this effectively through witty dialogue, articulately crafted Mise en Scene and a comedic narrative progression.

The narrative progression I refer to is the advancement of the characters into pure chaos after the guise of 'polite society' is stripped away, revealing the hypocrisy behind its ideals and presentation. This chaos is the crux of the film as it magnificently illustrates the futility of the mask that the upper class have created for themselves, which the film heightens through comedic elements giving the film a heavily satirical atmosphere.

Furthermore, the films caricatured characters play a crucial role in conveying the film's message as many of them are hypocrites, their real faces hiding behind the mask of what 'polite society' expects to see, with costume being cleverly utilised to convey to us the true thoughts and feelings of many of the characters whilst simultaneously acting as a red herring in some circumstances, illustrating how we cannot always know whether or not people are truly what they present themselves as, linking to another key message the film discusses: distrust in the political landscape.

However, although the film has a profound message, it suffers from being very simplistic on its surface. The story is cliché and predictable with a couple of drawn out dull moments, with the real meat of the film laying underneath, and whilst this is the case for most films, the surface has to be captivating at the same time in order to engage the audience. In this sense 'The Party' could be potentially divisive for audiences as the film runs the risk of appearing pretentious and dull for some viewers, which I can confirm as many left my screening of the film verbally disgruntled.

In conclusion, 'The Party' is an incredibly humorous, satirical take on modern day society's political landscape as well as the hypocrisy of 'polite society' and its bloated sense of self righteousness. Although it has its flaws, 'The Party' is a highly entertaining film with a punchy message that really sticks with you after you've left the theatre: indecision is the face of modern day politics, and that desperately needs to change.

I only watched this because of Cillian Murphy, and wasn't expecting much. The trailers made it look okay, and I don't really think a lot of comedy movies are actually funny. Well, I was surprised! I was laughing the whole time, and wished it was longer. Cillian's acting is taken to a new level in this movie, beyond what I had seen from him in the past. He was definitely the best character. Even the political humor made me laugh. The plot was also very good and interesting. The characters each add different types of comedy to the movie, and the dialogue is well written. I am excited to watch this movie again!

Shot in black and white and clocking in at just over an hour, it is one of the more original movies coming out of the Berlinale. Several elements stand out, like the production design by Carlos Conti (37°2 le matin) with its odd, detached feeling bringing to the movie, but also the daring cinematography by Aleksei Rodionov (Idi I smotri, Orlando!) combined with good editing makes the movie work.

So nice work in all sectors, but basically it is the actors who have to carry through in this dark comedy, somewhat difficult to define: Third screwball, third Woody Allen, and a third Britcom but definitely with a style of its own.

Potter herself gave the best synopsis by calling it a movie about ideals and convictions getting tested in a crisis situation. The really good script lines are dispersed among the excellent cast, although I do have a weakness for the role of Timothy Spall, such a great and modest actor, gripping the movie from the start onwards.

Why not rate this higher? I think it lacks a really great ambition, it is a nice ensemble piece, but despite the good things feels somewhat empty, more entertainment than art. The sum of the parts just doesn't add up enough for me, which often means the difference between OK and excellent.