Watching: Jellyfish
Mar. 5th, 2019 09:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
white_hartThis week, we decided to pass on The Aftermath, the big-budget period piece starring Keira Knightley and set in post-war Germany, on the grounds that it looked utterly predictable, and instead took a chance on Jellyfish, a no-budget British drama which is the debut feature film from young director James Gardner.
Set in Margate and shot in a naturalistic style light years away from the polished Hollywood films we've seen recently, Jellyfish is the story of fifteen-year-old Sarah, carer for her mentally ill mother and two younger siblings, desperately trying to keep the family together and find enough money for the electricity meter, berated by teachers and her sleazy boss at a seaside amusement arcade for not being dedicated enough as she tries to balance all the competing demands upon her. It's a bleak situation, and the film is not easy viewing and frequently heartbreaking in a Ken Loachish kind of way, but the misery of Sarah's life is offset by her discovery, prompted by her drama teacher, of a talent for outrageous, tells-it-like-it-is Frankie Boyle style stand-up comedy. Liv Hill (only 16 at the time, in her second professional acting role) delivers an absolutely stunning performance as Sarah and the film conveys the atmosphere of a shabby, down-at-heel out of season seaside resort perfectly. I think it's only getting a limited release, but (with the caveat that it should come with a content warning for non-graphic rape* so anyone who will find that triggery should stay away) if you get the chance I'd really recommend it.
*the woman in front of us walked out at that point
Set in Margate and shot in a naturalistic style light years away from the polished Hollywood films we've seen recently, Jellyfish is the story of fifteen-year-old Sarah, carer for her mentally ill mother and two younger siblings, desperately trying to keep the family together and find enough money for the electricity meter, berated by teachers and her sleazy boss at a seaside amusement arcade for not being dedicated enough as she tries to balance all the competing demands upon her. It's a bleak situation, and the film is not easy viewing and frequently heartbreaking in a Ken Loachish kind of way, but the misery of Sarah's life is offset by her discovery, prompted by her drama teacher, of a talent for outrageous, tells-it-like-it-is Frankie Boyle style stand-up comedy. Liv Hill (only 16 at the time, in her second professional acting role) delivers an absolutely stunning performance as Sarah and the film conveys the atmosphere of a shabby, down-at-heel out of season seaside resort perfectly. I think it's only getting a limited release, but (with the caveat that it should come with a content warning for non-graphic rape* so anyone who will find that triggery should stay away) if you get the chance I'd really recommend it.
*the woman in front of us walked out at that point
