The film starts by focusing on Caden's sad and dramatic life, eventually finding its way in to a much larger story. The viewer is hurtled along through a platitude of characters that all contribute to the sometimes overwhelming life of Caden. From Catherine Keener's consistently critical and narcissistic Adele Lack, we see the source of Caden's self-loathing and sadness. To the dependent and approval-seeking Claire Keen, played by Michelle Williams, we see more confident side of Caden. Both the atmosphere of a world that seems to be filled with sadness and paranoia, and the people that are constantly searching for something more allow for a more introspective movie than many viewers have seen in years.
Despite some of the more cynical undertones, Synecdoche plays like a more inviting David Lynch movie. It is the thematic focus on life, death, and love that helps the viewer gravitate to the often emotionally frightening life of almost everyone in this movie. Caden, a stage director, is always exploring humanity and meddling in the lives of his fictional characters on stage, much the same as director and writer Charlie Kauffman meddles with the characters in this story. Kauffman meddles beautifully and creates a rich tapestry of feeling, emotion, and entertainment that I found impossible to ignore.
However, this film is not for everyone. The lengthy development of a massive artistic project by Caden may loose the interest of the less insightful viewer. While this project provides the catalyst for discovery on both Caden and the viewer's front, the less introspective person may just be bored by this process. This film is a great challenge for any viewer, and I found that refreshing and engaging. However, if you prefer to let your mind absently wander, this is not the film for you.
1 comment:
Glad you enjoy. I'll try to keep things interesting.
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