Review of The Tracey Fragments (2007) by Jimmy C — 31 Mar 2010

I didn't like this movie much when I first saw it, then I caught myself, through out the day, making it a game. Trying to put the story together. Then I watched little videos called "Piecing Tracy together" Which was kind of the movie pieces put in place by fans. They sucked worse and made no sense. Then I watched an interview and learned a lot. Although they don't tell you what order the story goes in, I liked that they explained how they were budgeted, How they wanted to show how the minds works in various places very quickly (which, I had noticed about myself before, I have constantly thought my mind wouldn't shut up. Wouldn't pin point one thought. While it thought of what happened, what is happening, what will happen, what I want to happen. Who, what, where, when, why, how, what if? All at once in a span of one minute or rather my whole life.), and most importantly for my game, that it was a few days span of Tracy's life. I will have a spoiler coming up so if you haven't seen it and are interested in figuring out the story yourself please don't read the "**" area. I know it seems dark but it's also true. Many people have parents who aren't really sure what to do about their children and many have some that are a little mentally out there. I'm not so sure about her brother being hypnotized but looked at the relationship she has with him. She loves him so much. As in most family's, dysfunctional or not, siblings tend to find at least one other sibling that just makes them smile. The bullying at school about no breasts. This happens at school all the time, if not for that reason, there are many others. The new boy crush. When he doesn't know much about your reputation yet, but there is always the chance that he is so different from everyone else he won't care (same with girls). Running away, a few kind hands in the world, even if they do make you wonder if they are unintentionally dangerous with to much kindness. Seeing things you shouldn't, people with debts, scary situations, even attempt at rape. All these things happen every day. So here's the spoiler:

*She is picked on at school for having a flat chest but a new boy arrives and trying to impress him, she dresses her best. The kids pick on her that now she is just a copy cat and it won't work, she gets home and gets grounded for her attempt to fit in. She runs away, her brother follows. While out, the new boy seduces her and leaves her after he is done with her. She realizes she's lost track of her brother and goes home to tell her parents. They freak out she runs away again to find him. She asks around for him and finds a man who claims to know her brother, takes her to a bar then gets in a fight for what seems like he is trying to claim Tracy as his own when another man tries to hit on her. Tired of looking she falls asleep in an ally as a storm is brewing. A concerned citizen takes her to his house and explains to her that he doesn't want her to freeze and he will help after the storm, find her brother. A gangster/mafia comes to the door, and in hidden silence she see's her new friend be beet with a belt, then is caught herself. The man tries to rape her and she finds a way to get away while grabbing a shower curtain. She continues to look and realizes with everything she has gone through, she is stronger, and no one can stop her from doing what she wants.*.

*Side notes: She also has side stories, memories, and fantasy's. Stories: Her father showing affection and messing it up by being to stern, counselor not quite understanding then becoming Tracy's hope to get away. Memories: Father telling her horrid stories, brother giving her an unexpected and beautiful gift. Fantasy's: The new boy as a romantic relationship, her being a star and famous for her horrible story.*.

Hopefully this spoiler will get some of the people who wouldn't like the human minds way of seeing it, to see it in a new light, or just want to see it in the first place. It truly is a love hate kind of movie, and although the people who worked on the movie were hoping that it would reach out to teens, I don't think it will reach out to as many as they wanted. It takes a focused and determined mind to follow this movie. A lot of it is artistically beautiful. So many bits and pieces of this movie I can still relate to, even after living on my own and not being a teen anymore. I really hope people will look around the complexity of this movie and see the beauty and truth it is trying to show you.