Shadows on the Wall | Bad Behaviour

Bad Behaviour

dir-scr Alice Englert
prd Desray Armstrong, Molly Hallam
with Jennifer Connelly, Alice Englert, Ben Whishaw, Ana Scotney, Dasha Nekrasova, Karan Gill, Marlon Williams, Beulah Koale, Alistair Sewell, Mel Odedra, Xana Tang, Jane Campion
release NZ 9.Nov.23,
UK 5.Jan.24, US 14.Jun.24
23/New Zealand 1h49

SUNDANCE FILM FEST

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With offbeat energy, this loose black comedy from actor-filmmaker Alice Englert centres around a woman who doesn't feel properly connected with anyone, especially her daughter. With a meandering structure and terrific cast, the film is packed with clever, beautifully played moments that highlight difficulties people have relating to others, especially when everyday issues complicate things. So the characters resonate even if the plot feels a bit random.

In Oregon, former teen star Lucy (Connelly) attends an isolated retreat led by Elon (Whishaw), who pushes her to confront her childhood issues, especially as they relate to her relationship with her parents. Cynical, she's surprised to find that this is forcing her to think. And she begins to lose control, especially around annoying model Beverly (Nekrasova). Meanwhile in New Zealand, Lucy's stunt performer daughter Dylan (Englert) is injured on a film set, so travels to see her mother, who's now in trouble with the law, represented by young public attorney Leo (Gill).

Inventive touches include various dream sequences, one that's like a horror movie and another that's animated. Both Lucy and Dylan have severe mommy issues, so their perspectives continually collide and clash, even though they clearly love each other. The plot bends and turns in a wide range of odd directions, with flickering moments that often feel surreal as things head into forests, underground caves or mountaintops.

Both Connelly and Englert have a go-for-broke emotionality in their performances, drawing the audience deep into their characters. As a result, these are unusually complicated women, enjoyably singular and so textured that it's easy to see why their interaction works better when they just hang out together, goofing around without speaking, connecting on a level more profound than words.

"You're not a bad person," Dylan says to her mother about her legal problems, "it's just bad behaviour." The film is subtly looking at how underlying feelings can bind people together, and that they can remain strong even if the way they are expressed isn't communicated. In this story, this is the key factor in the estranged relationship between a strong-willed mother and her equally focussed daughter. So while the plot might be a bit messy and incomplete, the emotions keep us involved.

themes, language, violence 13.Jun.24

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