Review of Damsels in Distress (2012) by Simon P — 15 May 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

(2012) Damsels In Distress.

COMEDY DRAMA.

Written, directed and produced by Whit Stillman which the college or university(I'm not totally clear which one) only serves as a backdrop to many theories and philosophies spoken by it's young teenage female cast. At the start, a new student arrives Lily (Analeigh Tipton) and a group of 3 young teenage girls acknowledges and accepts her just because they know that she happens to share the same dorm as them. The group of 3 girls seems to be lead by a blond teen girl by the name of Violet(Greta Gerwig) who seems to start up a "Suicide Prevention Centre" around the schooling area who often clashes with other groups such as the college newspaper called "The Daily Complainer", and it's always one group putting down the other. Sport activities and jocks seem to be absent in this film and much of the main teenage boys seem to act like morons and are present because their interactions with other peers. Aforementioned, although there are many irregular words not spoken often in films, and many theories said, the spoken dialogue can't be fully understood from one sitting or by watching it on the big screen, but can be understood if viewers know what they're saying if it's watched with the "Close captioning" turned on since they're many tidbits and philosophies about individual oppression, depression, and optimism. To some critics, it's pointless but as a result of recognizing many conversations, nuance claims and so forth and it's theories, it'll become easier to resonate with it's dialogue or discussions the more I were to watch it. I mean, can tap dancing really help depression? which was one of the things this film addresses.

Footnote: The movies title "Damsels in Distress" is similar to Fred Astaire And Ginger Rogers title "A Damsel in Distress" which a homage was dedicated to them involving the characters dancing even though it's not the best dance sequence I had ever saw though, it's the thought that counts.

3 out of 4 stars.