Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
Screenplay by: Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt
Starring: Michelle Williams and Hong Chau
‘Showing Up’ takes flight with a female lead but lacks the voice of a seasoned artist.
In a rendition of an artist’s imbalanced life, director Kelly Reichardt depicts the struggles that Lizzy (Michelle Williams) must face, even though some issues she creates for herself.
Reichardt moves the film forward through near-silent scenes of Lizzy sculpting with clay. The scenes captivate, in a sense, as viewers try to understand Lizzy’s artistic choices. But, the repetition and lack of internal dialogue from Lizzy, left the audience craving more. Without the meaning of the all-female clay figurines portrayed through introspective scenes, the mystery of Lizzy, and why her artwork is meaningful or purposeful, is left unknown.
On the flip side, when Lizzy’s inner emotions are revealed, they are often during times of stress or anger. Who wouldn’t be upset not taking a shower for days on end? Or when spending over $150 caring for a pigeon someone else wanted to save? It adds to the notion that Lizzy has learned composure but is not as impassive as she acts. When handed the rough end of the stick one time too many, Lizzy crumbles under the pressure and calls out the people in her life.
With an impending art show on Monday, Lizzy attempts to reach out to her family for their attendance. Revealing subtly the disarray of her passive-aggressive mother, hair-brained father, and uncaring bother. Other exposition about how Lizzy was raised or how she came to be an art student is left to the viewer's interpretation with guidance from the screenplay.
Lizzy can’t seem to catch a break since she’s renting from a fellow art student and friend, Jo (Hong Chau), who neglects to repair the water heater. Leaving Lizzy unable to take a shower. With family and home life a mess, the last thing Lizzy needs is another pet.
Yet, after Jo decides to save a wounded pigeon, the responsibility of care lands on Lizzy. Disrupting her ability to work on her art for the show on Monday.
It is fair to say, Lizzy and Jo are opposites. Causing tension to buzz between them, until audience members disagree with the behavior of both.
The apartment water heater repair, wounded pigeon, and art show are the driving forces that lead the plot. The water heater and pigeon could both be resolved if Lizzy communicated and handled these issues with Jo face-to-face, and the art show is merely a moving timeline.
Lizzy, as a more composed character, did not grow or change her behavior to gain more out of her life. Making it difficult to understand her choices and overall behavior throughout the course of the film.
Plot: ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
Cinematography: ★★★☆☆ 3/5
Character Arc(s): ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
