Review of Kept and Dreamless (2005) by Tim J — 11 Jul 2008
If you get chance - see this movie - It'll be hard to find in the States, but you'll be amazed. A coked out mother, brilliant but way on the skids , is being buoyed by her 10 year old, and the support of some friends and neighbors, who all have their own problems.
The men in the film are hopeless and ridiculous. The women are , well, "kept and dreamless", but not beyond hope. It really is a Marxist/Feminist film where class and history inform the situations.
And most incredibly , it is a comedy really. Even in the most desperate states the director finds the absurd angle, which gives rise to the hope and sustenance of the film. It is also shot in great pop colors, particularly shades of green and pink (reflecting the earth and women ?) Finally the performances are as good as anything you'll see.
The little girl,Lucia Snieg, is really really unbelievable. Where do these little actresses come from?! She's not even in the credits listed here, and she ought to be rich and famous!! Vera Fogwill as the mother is so real, so touching with the little girl, it grounds every scene.
The bonding between all the women is heartening. The movie gives no easy answers, but in it's critique of gender, class, and Argentinian society, it manages to balance hope, laughs, and inspiration.
This review of Kept and Dreamless (2005) was written by Tim J on 11 Jul 2008.
Kept and Dreamless has generally received positive reviews.
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